"Emma Raducanu is just dumb", "Silence is gold" - Fans tear into Brit after she picks "prime" Naomi Osaka over Iga Swiatek

Emma Raducanu recently picked Naomi Osaka over Iga Swiatek during her appearance in a video for a prominent tennis media organization. However, Raducanu's choice landed her in a soup, as fans, amused and angered in equal measure, took swipes at the 2021 US Open Champion.

Raducanu has enjoyed a resurgent season so far, following her return to action at the start of the year at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Even though she has yet to hit the heights that saw her shockingly clinch the US Open title three years ago as a qualifier, recent signs suggest that she is slowly but surely getting there.

The Brit's last outing came in the fourth round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where her fine SW19 run was brought to an abrupt halt by surprise package Lulu Sun. Raducanu, having decided to skip the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics, is right now preparing for the Mubadala Citi DC Open as the season gradually enters its hardcourt swing.

Recently, Raducanu featured in a video for Tennis Channel. In it, the former World No. 10 was asked to pick winners from imagined matchups for the "Tennis Channel Open." One of the matchups given to her was current World No. 1 Iga Swiatek vs. former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. In her response, Raducanu seemed to briefly wonder who would win "in their prime" before eventually choosing Osaka.

Several fans on X (formerly Twitter) took swipes at Raducanu over her choice, opining that Swiatek is clearly the superior player based on her and Osaka's respective achievements.

""In their prime?" 5 GS vs. 4 GS. 22 titles vs. 7 titles . 112 weeks vs. 25 weeks as number one. 37 matches won streak, 21 matches won streak. I'm pretty sure Iga didn't hit her prime yet. I love Naomi. But girl, silence is gold. Think about it sometimes," a fan wrote.

"Osaka beats Swiatek? Super intelligent my a**e," commented another fan.

"Emma new #3 on my s**tlist for this. I’m going to be whacking her OFTEN from now on," another fan chimed in.

There were others who questioned the 2021 US Open champion's wits, with one alluding to Raducanu choosing 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina over former World No. 1 and five-time Major winner Maria Sharapova later on in the video.

"Please it gets worse she picked Rybakina over Sharapova. She is just dumb despite I’m afraid," wrote one fan.

"I can't defend her anymore," another fan commented.

"My Emma Raducanu agenda from now on going to stink," another fan weighed in.

Emma Raducanu to start Mubadala Citi DC Open campaign against Elise Mertens

Emma Raducanu (Source: Getty)

Raducanu, currently on a 16-10 win-loss record this season, is slated to face No. 8 seed Elise Mertens in the first round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Monday, July 29. The 2021 US Open champion received a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 event, where her best finish came in 2022 after she reached the quarterfinals.

The Brit, ranked World No. 93 right now, has faced the Belgian only once before on the WTA Tour. The meeting came in the second round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, with Raducanu thoroughly outclassing Mertens 6-1, 6-2.

If the former World No. 10 manages to get the better of Mertens, she will face either Peyton Stearns or Clervie Ngounoue in the second round.