Emma Raducanu reached just her second tour-level final last week, beating four opponents before losing to Sorana Cirstea whilst within touching distance of the title.
It marked a hugely impressive week, particularly given this was the first tournament that the British number one had played since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig.
And yet, despite what should be viewed as a great triumph, Emma Raducanu has been strangely slammed by an all-time tennis great on X.
Fortunately, the pundits from The Tennis Podcast have jumped to her defence, left baffled after seeing Boris Becker criticise Raducanu.
Boris Becker slammed for Emma Raducanu comment
It was Catherine Whitaker who first led the charge, claiming: “It was just the perfect example of how Emma Raducanu brings out the petty and pathetic in so many people.
“Like, why are you out here having a mean-spirited opinion about Emma Raducanu and putting it out into the universe? Like, I don’t know what it is about her that brings that out in people, but it is a fact that she does, whether it’s Boris Becker or Man in Pub or Taxi Driver or, you know, whoever it is.”
This led Matt Roberts to echo that sentiment, adding: “It’s been like that, unfortunately, for a very long time, and, yeah, I just hate that, just punching down, and I think it is a classic example where she can’t really win in the eyes of many people, right? Like, if he doesn’t reach the final or they’re saying ‘Oh, well, if she hasn’t reached the final.’ And if she does, it’s ‘Oh, it’s only it’s this level of tournament, and these category of players’, and, you know, it is rough to see that, actually.
“And I think there are sort of valid potential questions you could have over Emma Raducanu’s career over the past few years. I think you can question her decision-making with coaches. It’s obviously worked for her at the start of her career, and she’s won the Grand Slam title that everyone is craving, and people seem to forget that.
“People seem to treat that as some kind of fluke or anomaly, or it doesn’t really count, that she has done the thing that everyone is trying to do.
“But I think you can have legitimate questions about the way she has sort of hired and fired coaches since then, because, you know, that strategy has sort of stopped being quite so beneficial for her.
“But other than that, I don’t really get the huge level of criticism that Emma Raducanu gets, and it does feel hugely outsized and not in proportion with the career that she’s trying to develop for herself, having had a start that was so extraordinary, that no one has ever had to tread that path before. And, you know, she’s doing her best.”
Emma Raducanu is a lightning rod for criticism
This marks just the latest example of how Raducanu continues to be a lightning rod for criticism, through no fault of her own.
After all, why should she be lambasted for achieving the feat that every player in the world is striving for as an unknown teenager?
The standard she set back in 2021 was impossible to follow, and those who have watched her career with close interest will see that she is trying her best.
Criticism over her coaching choices and health issues can be valid, at times, but it feels like Becker didn’t need to punch down during a week where Raducanu should be celebrated for reaching her first final since her US Open title.
As Roberts said, she’s doing her best. The 22-year-old is creeping ever closer to a return to the top 20 and finally put together a string of wins to give herself the opportunity to win a tournament.