"Nick Kyrgios, next time you make a comment try to listen to the entire interview" - Daniela Hantuchova on being criticized by Australian for Emma Raducanu assessment
Daniela Hantuchova has expressed disappointment at Nick Kyrgios following his criticism of the former pro in the wake of comments she made about 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
Speaking after Raducanu's loss to Katerina Siniakova at the 2022 Miami Open, Hantuchova said she felt the "locker room respect" that the Brit had earned after her maiden Grand Slam triumph was fading away.
What’s with old retired players giving their opinion on our stars now? I love A-rod and I agree we all need to chill with the rackets and all that, but geezus, I read an article about a past female player talking about radacanu, no offence but she is a far far bigger name already
Her opinion did not sit well with Kyrgios, who took to Twitter to voice his disagreement, calling Raducanu a "far, far bigger name" than Hantuchova.
Now, the Slovak has come forward in defense of her assessment of Raducanu, saying Kyrgios' comments were unwarranted as he did not even bother to listen to her full interview before taking to social media.
@NickKyrgios Nick please next time,when you make a comment try to at least listen to the entire interview,i know you are super busy but..i have nothing but love and respect 4 Emma and because of that i believe she can achieve even bigger things,because of her class and talent.just like you🙏
Hantuchova said she has nothing but "love and respect" for Raducanu and was simply pointing out that the World No. 13 was underperforming and was capable of achieving better results.
The Slovak reaffirmed her faith in Raducanu, saying she had "class and talent" and requested Kyrgios to gather all the information before making such comments in the future. But she was also quick to suggest that she had respect for Kyrgios and his talent.
"Nick please next time, when you make a comment try to at least listen to the entire interview,” Hantuchova wrote on Twitter. “I know you are super busy but i have nothing but love and respect 4 Emma and because of that i believe she can achieve even bigger things, because of her class and talent. just like you."
What did Daniela Hantuchova say about Emma Raducanu to earn the wrath of Nick Kyrgios?
Hantuchova had earlier said Emma Raducanu's locker room aura was fading, which she felt was a "shame" as the Brit had the game to win on the biggest of stages.
The Slovak also said the US Open win put a target on Raducanu's back and everyone wanted to beat her. She added that the youngster needed to regroup and return stronger.
"That was a tough one for Emma," Hantuchova said of the Brit's loss to Siniakova in Miami . "I think it is going to hurt big time because of the chances she had. She was the better player for most of it. But the thing is now with Emma, everyone wants to beat her."
"All the locker-room respect she had after the US Open is now kind of going away which is a shame," she continued. "It is going to be important now for Emma to regroup, rethink what she has to change and get out there on the practice court. At that age, you want to be fit, you want to show everyone that you are out there, no matter how long it takes. And I believe Emma has the level, she just has to find a way to get it out of her."