'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Emma Raducanu's claim that she thrives in Asia has not gone down well with tennis fans. The Brit's remark came ahead of her ongoing 2024 Korea Open campaign.
Raducanu has come into the Korea Open, a WTA 500 event from this year, on the back of a dismal US Open campaign. The 2021 US Open champion was ousted in the first round at Flushing Meadows by Sofia Kenin, but she made a winning return at the Korea Open, as she registered a narrow 7-6(4), 7-6(5) win over Stearns.
The former World No. 10 has played sparingly so far this year in a bid to avoid injuries, which derailed the majority of her 2023 season. However, if all goes according to plan, she will feature at the upcoming China Open and then the Wuhan Open, both WTA 1000 events.
Trending
Before commencing her campaign in Seoul, Emma Raducanu told WTA Insider that she has prioritized the Asian swing of the season. According to the 21-year-old, her decision to do so stems from her feeling that she thrives whenever she is on the continent. Raducanu has Asian roots, with her mother Renee Zhai having been born in the Chinese city of Shenyang.
"I have to prioritize and Asia was one of those for me. So I stacked the year on the backend heavy, because I'm excited. I thrive in Asia. It's where I truly feel like home. So I'm buzzing for that trip even though it's at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to going out there and trying to take it," Emma Raducanu told WTA Insider.
Raducanu's remark, though, rubbed several fans the wrong way. Several fans ridiculed her because historically she has never been successful at any tournament in Asia.
"Thrives?? In her career she’s made one 250 SF in Asia?" a fan wrote, referring to the Brit reaching the semifinals of the Korea Open two years ago, when it was a WTA 250 event.
"She's only ever played 1 Asian tournament -Korea'22 when it was still a 250, got to SF due to 3 weak opponents, lost to Penko. How does she know she'll "thrive" there? I think she meant she "hopes to" thrive there," suggested another fan.
"Emma Raducanu bigging herself up. Lose early on. Make an excuse. Repeat at next tournament. At the start of every tournament she says the same thing. It’s funny," another chimed in.
Another set of fans took swipes at the 2021 US Open champion because of her history of underwhelming results after 'hyping' herself up.
"Who is mentoring this girl? Seriously another lost soul," wrote one fan.
"I giggle … anytime she makes a statement," another fan commented.
"HYPE HYPE HYPE," another weighed in, sarcastically.
Following her win over Stearns in Seoul, Raducanu expressed her desire to be in action as much as possible before the ongoing season comes to an end.
"As grueling as it was, I had three hours of match experience" - Emma Raducanu after a first-round win over Peyton Stearns at Korea Open
After her narrow victory over Peyton Stearns, Emma Raducanu told reporters that she aims to finish the season by taking part in as many matches as possible. So far this year, the Brit has only played 31 matches (19-12 win-loss record), which boils down to mainly two factors: early exits at tournaments and withdrawals from multiple events based on her concerns over sustaining fresh injuries.
"I think the rest of the year, as long as I'm healthy I'm going to try and finish the season and play as many matches as I can. It's something I'm really light on since the grass through the D.C. period. I've not played many points, even in practice," Emma Raducanu said.
"So today, as grueling as it was, I think I had three hours of match experience, which can only aid me going into the next few weeks. For me now, I just want to play matches and, in the meantime, do a little bit of work on my game where I can," Raducanu added.
Up next for the World No. 70 at the Korea Open is No. 8 seed Yuan Yue in the second round. The matchup will mark the first time that the two lock horns with each other on the WTA Tour.
