Andy Roddick sounds off on recent 'wild' headlines that were made about Emma Raducanu

Andy Roddick suggests it was wild to throw out claims that Emma Raducanu was partying arduous earlier than Doha and insinuate that was accountable for her loss when the photographs and the whole lot revealed it was nothing greater than a proper look. 

Earlier this month, Raducanu made an look in the course of the opening of a luxurious lodge in Dubai as she was joined by another celebrities – Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Idris Alba, and many others. In footage that surfaced, Raducanu might be seen sitting on the desk with different celebrities with out alcohol or something like that close to the 21-year-old Briton. 

However after Raducanu exited Doha within the first spherical following a 0-6 6-7 (6) loss to Anhelina Kalinina, British media wrote in regards to the 21-year-old “attending a Dubai get together 48 hours earlier than her match.” Additionally, a number of the reviews appeared accountable Raducanu’s poor show and 48 unforced errors on making an look in Dubai simply earlier than her Doha first-round match.

Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, thought Raducanu’s Dubai look was completely blown out of proportion. Additionally, Roddick underlined that Raducanu has sponsorship commitments and that making an look in Dubai was one thing she was most likely obliged to do. 

“Final week, I noticed some British rag, ‘Emma Raducanu at a celebration two days earlier than she performs her first spherical,'” Roddick mentioned on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.

“One – she’s a wildcard. In the event you’re a wildcard it’s like, I’m asking you for a direct entry right into a match, which your rating doesn’t get you into. However everytime you get a wild card for the historical past of time, it’s a must to give one thing again to the match.

“Usually it’s like, I’m not a reputation, I haven’t received the US Open at that time, so I’m collaborating in clinics or I’m hitting with a sponsor’s child… or who is aware of what it would really be.

“They’re like, she’s out partying. I’m like, no. She went to an look that was most likely the rationale why she… Perhaps I’m projecting right here nevertheless it’s not out of bounds. She went to this factor, took an image sitting down, no drink within the hand, no nothing. Occasion? The headline’s unattainable!”

Roddick was shocked by Raducanu’s post-match feedback in Doha

Getting into Doha, Raducanu was 3-3 on the season and Kalinina was definitely thought-about a positive matchup for the 2021 US Open champion. However Raducanu got here out enjoying flat as she acquired bageled by Kalinina within the first set through which she did not have a single sport or break level. 

Within the second set, Raducanu was down by an early break however managed to recuperate earlier than shedding her serve once more within the eleventh sport. With Kalinina 6-0 6-5 up and serving for the match, Raducanu confronted two consecutive match factors when she impressively managed to steal the twelfth sport and power a tie-break. Then within the second-set tie-break, Raducanu even had a set level and an opportunity to power a decider however Kalinina saved it earlier than changing her third match level to flee with a two-set win.

After committing 48 unforced errors in opposition to Kalinina and shedding, Raducanu mentioned it was her “first day match I performed in a yr” and that she would “must follow extra outdoors.” Earlier than Doha, Raducanu began her season in Auckland and likewise competed on the Australian Open. Roddick was a bit surprised by that assertion. 

“Three days later, she loses; it’s not the best match and she or he’s speaking about how she hasn’t performed outside sufficient. I’m going, ‘You spent two months in Australia.’ So I don’t know learn how to cowl her,” Roddick mentioned.

“In a single side, this (criticism) is totally unfair after which different one, I’m going – I don’t know what the main focus is so far as teaching. I don’t know what’s occurring when.”

Roddick cheering for Raducanu

The criticism and scrutiny Raducanu has confronted over the previous few years is well-documented and former world No. 1 Roddick feels for the Briton and divulges he’s really rooting for the 21-year-old to make it the place she needs to be. Additionally, 41-year-old Roddick issued large reward on Emma Raducanu profitable the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier, saying that to this present day he has by no means seen one thing like that. 

“It is one of many stranger issues that I’ve ever needed to actually take into consideration, all of the whereas each time I watch her, I cheer for her. She’s such a terrific story and such an outlier in tennis. My complete life I’ve been on this sport, and I’ve by no means as soon as in my life seen one thing occur the way in which it did in New York,” Roddick mentioned.

In the meantime, Raducanu posted an Instagram Story from Los Angeles on Thursday. To date, Raducanu hasn’t been introduced as a major draw wildcard recipient for subsequent week’s WTA 1000 match in Indian Wells however it’s anticipated to occur within the subsequent few days. 

Final yr, Raducanu made the Indian Wells round-of-16 as a wildcard earlier than shedding to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.