"Must be a Dior event going on during that time";"Right decision" - Fans divided over Emma Raducanu opting out of Paris Olympics 2024
Emma Raducanu will not make her Olympics debut at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris as she has turned down a wildcard entry. The Paris Olympics will be played from July 26 to August 11.
Raducanu, currently outside the top 150 on the WTA Ranking, was offered a wildcard to participate in the women's singles category at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 2021 US Open champion was given the wildcard reserved for a former Grand Slam champion but turned it down to focus on her health and physical recovery.
Raducanu was pretty clear in her reasoning behind rejecting the Olympic wildcard. She is mindful of her past injury struggles, which have plagued her career since her triumph in New York, and prefers protecting her health rather than going through the rigors of an Olympic campaign.
"For me, it was pretty clear from the start. I’m very single-minded, I do things my own way and at my own time, whenever I want, not in a diva way, but prioritising my body and my health. If I’m fit, if I’m giving 100 per cent, I know great things are coming. I just don’t think there’s any need to put additional stress on my body or any risks, especially with my [injury] history," Raducanu said post her semifinal loss at the Nottingham Open.
Tennis fans had mixed reactions to Emma Raducanu's decision. A section of fans believed it was unwise for the 21-year-old to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Olympics.
A fan joked that Raducanu decided against going to Paris to attend a Dior event. Meanwhile, another wondered if the paycheck was the real reason behind her apprehension about playing at the Games.
"Must be a Dior event going on during that time," a fan joked.
"Big talk from someone ranked 209," said a fan.
"More like she won’t be earning any money at the Olympics. People need to get their head around that Raducanu does everything for a cheque. All her decisions involve a cheque being written out to her," another fan wrote.
"Wow... I think she may regret this. Only get an opportunity every 4 years. Huge honour to compete in worlds biggest sporting event. Given her lack of tennis and multiple issues with competing on a regular basis, this is possibly her only opportunity," a fan said.
Another set of fans supported Emma Raducanu's choice, with some saying it was smart for her to forego a clay court tournament to be fit for the hard-court North American swing. Others argued that the Brit will have more opportunities to play in the Olympics in the future.
"Right decision. Hard court events and US Open lead ups should be her priority as she needs to improve her ranking. No points for Olympics and won’t be close to winning a medal," another fan commented on X.
"Raducanu benefitted from not playing the Olympics in 2021. She was well rested and her opponents were exhausted from matches and the long trip back from Tokyo. Maybe she’s hoping for the same set of circumstances," a fan opined.
Emma Raducanu begins grass-court swing with semifinal appearance at Nottingham Open 2024
Emma Raducanu has kicked off her grass swing on a promising note with her best showing on the 2024 WTA Tour. The former World No. 10 received a main draw wildcard to play at the WTA 250 tournament in Nottingham, UK, and began her campaign with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 win against qualifier Ena Shibahara.
She built upon that result with another straight-set 6-2, 6-2 win over Daria Snigur. In the quarterfinal, Raducanu was due to face compatriot Francesca Jones, but the latter withdrew, paving the path for Raducanu to qualify for her first WTA Tour semifinal since 2022.
Emma Raducanu faced another Brit in the semifinal in the form of defending champion and No. 3 seed Katie Boulter. Raducanu edged past Boulter in the first set tiebreaker, but the latter came back more robust in the next two sets to emerge victorious 6-7(13), 6-3, 6-4.