John McEnroe's words were met negatively by individuals watching Monday's developments unfold. Sipa Press

John McEnroe criticized for comments about Emma Raducanu

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/5/21

Emma Raducanu's Cinderella Wimbledon journey ended Monday when the British 18-year-old retired from her fourth-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic after visibly struggling with her breathing on the court.

As Sean Ingle of The Guardian noted, all-time tennis great John McEnroe commented for the BBC that he believed Raducanu may have been too overwhelmed by the occasion and compared her retirement with Naomi Osaka pulling out of the French Open and Wimbledon because of mental health concerns.

"I feel bad for Emma, obviously," McEnroe said. "It appears that it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.

"How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully, she’ll learn from this experience."

McEnroe's words were met negatively by individuals watching Monday's developments unfold:

Listening to the John McEnroe commentary about Emma Raducanu. Two things: 1. Is he drunk? 2. Is there anything more annoying than a man telling a woman she’s not hurt she’s just emotional? No, no there isn’t. Please ask him to stop. #Wimbledon
— Harriet Minter (@HarrietMinter) July 5, 2021

I didn’t realise John McEnroe was medically qualified or that he has X-ray vision! I hope Emma Raducanu is ok and wish her a speedy recovery. Did her country proud
— Dr Alex (@DrAlexGeorge) July 5, 2021

Feel like the producers could have given given McEnroe a bit of a better mental health briefing ahead of him sharing ALL the views there. But you do you.
— Chloe Hubbard (@ChloeHubbard) July 5, 2021

Raducanu lost the first set and was trailing 0-3 in the second when she called for a medical timeout after she appeared to be hyperventilating. Tomljanovic learned of McEnroe's comments after she went through to the tournament's next round and said the words were "definitely harsh."

She added: "I can’t imagine being in her shoes at 18 playing a fourth round in your home country. It’s something I can’t even imagine. For him to say that, it’s definitely harsh. I have experienced something similar but not to that extent. I know that it’s a real thing. I’ve spoken to athletes that have gone through that. It’s not easy."

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