"Always drives me n*ts" - Emma Raducanu turning down wildcard for Paris Olympics infuriates tennis journalist

Emma Raducanu turning down a wildcard for the upcoming Paris Olympics left tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg irate. The journalist felt that an opportunity to represent the country at the Olympics should never be turned down by a player.

Raducanu, who returned to the tour this year after recovering from multiple surgeries on her wrists and ankle, decided to sit out the French Open in order to give herself enough time to prepare for Wimbledon. The Brit had a positive start to her grass swing, reaching the semifinals in Nottingham, where she lost to eventual champion Katie Boulter.

The Brit recently shared that she had received a wildcard for the Paris Olympics but had to turn it down. Though she loved representing her country, she admitted that she didn't want to put her body at risk since the Olympics were going to be held at Roland Garros, meaning clay surface. This would mean that Raducanu would have to switch from grass to clay in a couple of weeks.

However, she expressed her desire to be a part of the 2028 LA Olympics and wished her team good luck.

“I love playing for my country, that was pretty clear at the Billie Jean King Cup. I really fought and I enjoyed it so much,” Raducanu said.

“But the Olympics is just not the right time for me this year. I really hope to be part of the next one. With the changing surface, it is not worth the risk for me at this point, having recovered from the surgeries last year. But I do wish the team good luck.”

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg wasn't happy with Emma Raducanus's decision and took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his opinion. He said that it infuriated him when players who haven't played at the Olympics skip the once in four-year event as there was no guarantee that any other opportunity would ever arise.

"This isn’t just a Raducanu complaint, because her scheduling is often goofy, but it always drives me n*ts when tennis players who have never played an Olympics skip the Olympics. Never take for granted that this might be your only chance. No future in this sport is guaranteed."

Katie Boulter will play the women's singles for Team Great Britain at the Olympics and will team up with Heather Watson for the doubles. Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden make up the second pair.

"I just don’t think there is any need to put any additional stress on my body or any risk, especially with my history." - Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu

Continuing her thoughts, Emma Raducanu explained that she was a single-minded person who liked doing things her own way. She mentioned how her health was paramount and wanted to prioritize it as she was confident that at 100% she could achieve major feats.

“I am very single-minded and I do things my own way and in my own time whenever I want, not in a diva way, but just prioritising my body and my health, because I know if I am fit and giving my 100 per cent, I know that great things are coming.

She felt that there was no need to put herself at risk by putting her body through the ordeal of switching surfaces in a short time given the injuries she had suffered.

“I just don’t think there is any need to put any additional stress on my body or any risk, especially with my history.”

Emma Raducanu is slated to play at the Rothesay International next, which is slated to begin on 22nd June. She will be joined by Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Danielle Collins, to name a few.