"Don't know why so many people are salty over Emma Raducanu's interview" - Liam Broady offers support to Brit amid controversial Andy Murray comments
British tennis player Liam Broady has defended Emma Raducanu after fans piled up on her after her remarks around Andy Murray’s retirement.
Three-time Major champion Murray bid farewell to tennis recently, playing his last professional match in the men's doubles QF at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was set to play the mixed doubles with Raducanu, but she withdrew due to concerns around her wrist.
Ahead of her campaign at the 2024 US Open, she was asked if much has changed on tour after Murray's retirement. The 21-year-old said she doesn't feel much of a difference.
"No, it doesn’t feel different at all. I think tennis is unforgiving in that sense no matter who you are. It just moves on. There’s always another match; there’s always another tournament," Raducanu said during her press conference.
She acknowledged Murray’s achievements but emphasized how swiftly tennis and life evolve, rendering every development as old news.
"Of course (Andy Murray’s) achieved amazing things and I watched him win this tournament (2012 US Open), but yeah, it’s a fast pace, just like life is. You know, it’s old news the next day kind of thing," she said.
Consequently, several netizens criticized the 21-year-old, urging her to show some respect towards Murray. Here are some of their reactions:
Liam Broady later defended Raducanu's comments, suggesting that her view reflects the fast-paced nature of tennis. The 30-year-old added that there’s no time to dwell on past events as it constantly moves from one tournament to the next.
"Don’t know why so many people are salty over Raducanu’s interview. Her point is that the sport moves so fast, and she’s right about that. Nobody has time to stop and ponder things it’s just one tournament after another, a million miles an hour," Broady wrote on X.
Emma Raducanu is scheduled to face Sofia Kenin in the first round of the 2024 US Open
Raducanu will begin her 2024 US Open campaign with the hope of repeating her 2021 triumph, which made her the first British woman to win a Major singles title in 44 years.
The 21-year-old last competed at the Citi Open, where she made the quarterfinals before losing to Paula Badosa 6-4, 5-7, 4-6. She did not compete in the WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati before the US Open.
Raducanu will face former Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin, in the first round of the New York Major. This will mark their first-ever encounter.
Kenin enters the US Open after a disappointing North American swing. The American exited the Citi Open and Canadian Open in the first round and chose not to compete in the singles draw at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.
Kenin's most recent appearance was at Tennis in the Land, where she was eliminated in the second round by Clara Burel with scores of 4-6, 3-6.
Both Raducanu and Kenin will aim to win their second career Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows. The tournament begins on Monday, August 26.