Mcenroe chided for ‘harsh’ words on Brit teen’s exit
WIMBLEDON, England — Nothing much was going right for Emma Raducanu, Britain’s budding tennis star, in her lateevening match Monday on Wimbledon’s Court 1.
Trailing Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 3-0, Raducanu retired because of breathing difficulties, a circumstance that prompted John Mcenroe to speculate that she had been overwhelmed by the moment.
And that opinion prompted swift and angry condemnation.
“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” Mcenroe, now an ESPN analyst who advanced to a Wimbledon quarterfinal against Jimmy Connors when he was an 18-year-old amateur in 1977, told the BBC, according to the Guardian. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with (Naomi) Osaka not even here.
“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long — how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”
Mcenroe’s comments, particularly the mention of Osaka, the 23-year-old star who withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon to concentrate on her mental health, were a step too far for many. Among those who were critical of Mcenroe’s speculation was Raducanu’s opponent.
“I wasn’t 100% (certain) what was wrong with Emma,” Tomljanovic noted, but added, “I can’t imagine being in her shoes at 18, playing a fourth-round (match) in your home country. For him to say that, it’s definitely harsh. I have experienced something similar. I know it’s a real thing. It’s not easy.”
Raducanu had sought medical treatment during the match, and later the All England Club announced she had retired because of difficulty breathing.
“Maybe it’s not a shame this has happened right now when she is 18,” Mcenroe said. “I played this tournament at 18 and in a way I was happy I lost. I was able to understand what it would take to make it.”
In a statement she posted Tuesday on Twitter, Raducanu said “the whole experience caught up” with her and she had felt dizzy. By Tuesday, she said she had recovered.
“I think that in the moment, I mean on Court 1, the atmosphere was once again so incredible to play in front of,” she said in a BBC interview Tuesday. “I’m obviously very disappointed I couldn’t finish the match. The medical advice was to pull out, and I followed it because I think their advice was the best, in the end.”
Hurkacz to face idol Federer in quarters
Hubert Hurkacz was 6 years old when Roger Federer won his first Wimbledon title.
On Wednesday, at the age of 24, Hurkacz will try to foil Federer’s latest attempt at winning a ninth.
As if playing in a first Grand Slam quarterfinal wasn’t special enough, Hurkacz will be on Centre Court going up against
the player that he — and a generation of tennis players like him — grew up idolizing.
“Roger, what he does, the way he plays, the titles he has won — he has inspired so many people,” Hurkacz said. “Being out there playing quarterfinals against him, it’s really amazing.”
The Polish player earned that matchup by coming from behind to beat No. 2-seeded Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3,
6-3. That match resumed Tuesday under the roof on Centre Court after being suspended overnight in the fourth set because of rain. It had started at No. 2 Court, which does not have a retractable cover.
It was the only fourth-round match that wasn’t completed Monday, which means Hurkacz is the only man who won’t get a full day’s rest before the quarterfinals.