"Worst player to win a Slam," "Even Naomi Osaka played qualifying" - Fans baffled by Emma Raducanu's decision to skip qualifiers ahead of US Open 2024

Emma Raducanu's decision to skip back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati in the buildup to the 2024 US Open has led to harsh criticism from fans. She did not receive a wildcard entry into the main draws of the recently-concluded National Bank Open in Toronto and the ongoing Cincinnati Open, which meant that she had to play in the qualifying rounds to enter.

Raducanu's last outing was at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., where she reached the quarterfinals before being ousted by eventual champion Paula Badosa. However, she has refrained from playing the qualifiers of the two events held on the Tour since then.

Instead, the 2021 US Open women's singles champion is back home in the UK training for the upcoming Major. There is also no clarity regarding her participation at either the Monterrey Open (WTA 500 event) or Tennis in the Land in Cleveland (WTA 250 event), both of which are slated to take place during the week before the US Open starts.

In light of her decision to skip the two events, fans on X (formerly Twitter) lambasted Emma Raducanu with several questioning the former World No. 10's desire to play tennis professionally.

"Increasingly, Emma Raducanu feels more like a branding exercise than an athlete. Qualifying isn't on brand. But being ranked 70th because she never plays is, I guess," one said, who later added, "And I **like** Emma Raducanu and think she's talented enough to be a consistent top 25 player. But, the unwillingness to play without a main draw wildcard is, for me, not a great look."

"I thought missing the French and the Olympics was all about getting ready for the US summer swing etc etc etc. boring boring boring boring," another said.

"Worst player to ever win a slam in the history of the sport…women’s tennis desperately needs a super star that can promote the sport," a third fans said.

"We get it, shooting magazine ads is a lot less work than being an elite tennis player. So at least stop pretending to be a tennis player? Just sign product endorsements like a model, omit the charade of tennis," yet another said.

Some fans compared Raducanu to former World No. 1 and four-time Major winner Naomi Osaka. The Japanese didn't receive a main draw wildcard for the Cincinnati Open either, though she did go ahead and play in the qualifying rounds, eventually losing in the second round of qualifying to Ashlyn Krueger.

"Our Barbie, even Naomi Osaka played qualifying," a fan said.

"And yet Naomi Osaka, a far more accomplished player than Raducanu, decided to take the plunge and go through qualies. Shows the difference in mindset between the two," another said.

"Too precious for qualifying then? See Naomi Osaka tried," one fan said.

Raducanu's coach Nick Cavaday's sister, Naomi recently provided a possible explanation of the World No. 71 skipping the qualifying rounds at both Toronto and Cincinnati.

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Emma Raducanu's coach's sister recently assessed the Brit's decision to skip Toronto and Cincinnati qualifiers

Emma Raducanu in action at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships (Source: Getty)

Naomi Cavaday's assessment came during one of the matches at the ongoing Cincinnati Open, where she was commentating alongside former British World No. 1 Laura Robson. She reasoned that Emma Raducanu's decision may have stemmed from her perception of the qualifying matches as "extra matches". She said (via Express):

"I think viewing it as extra matches, she got some wins in Washington, pretty happy with the level. Body feeling it a touch, trying to keep that managed."

Raducanu's last US Open appearance came in the 2022 edition of the prestigious hardcourt Major, where she was the defending champion but lost in straight sets in the first round to Alize Cornet.