John McEnroe calls Emma Raducanu’s US Open win ‘loopy’ and praises teenager for bouncing again
Raducanu upset the chances to grow to be the primary qualifier to win a grand slam through the Open period on Saturday, beating fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez within the last at Flushing Meadows.
Her breathtaking performances in New York got here off the again of a promising debut at Wimbledon simply two months earlier than, the place she reached the fourth spherical earlier than withdrawing with “respiratory difficulties.”
“Completely sudden. By no means thought it could occur in my lifetime to see an 18 and 19-year-old do it,” McEnroe instructed Muricas Information’s Christiane Amanpour, talking of the all-teen last on the US Open.
“I believe the ladies’s recreation is extra open than it is ever been in order that’s an indication that much more gamers assume they’ve an opportunity.
“I am unable to think about anybody in her [Raducanu] camp anticipated this. To win the US Open with out shedding a set, that is loopy. She’s an incredible athlete, she looks as if an incredible child.”
Wimbledon controversy
Following Raducanu’s withdrawal from Wimbledon, McEnroe was criticized for saying the scenario had grow to be “an excessive amount of” for her.
On the time, it was not clear what made the teen cease taking part in, however she later mentioned the “entire expertise caught up with me” and that she started to “breathe closely and felt dizzy” after quite a few “tremendous intense rallies.”
McEnroe acquired backlash from individuals saying he was questioning the teen’s psychological power however insists he by no means meant to trigger offense and solely ever meant to assist the breakthrough star.
“I meant precisely what I mentioned,” he added. “I attempted to narrate it in a small solution to my expertise once I first went to Wimbledon additionally at 18 and managed to qualify like Emma did.
“I performed Jimmy Connors, I hadn’t been on Centre Courtroom. I keep in mind my leg shaking and being completely overwhelmed by the expertise and virtually completely happy I did not win.
“There’s lots of nice upsides, however there’s additionally stress you placed on your self and expectations that others placed on you.
“In comparison with lots of different issues I’ve mentioned up to now, I imply that was to me as vanilla because it comes. I used to be very supportive of her, I assumed, on the time.”
The seven-time grand slam singles winner — who was famend for his mid-match antics — says he hopes Raducanu can cope with the newfound consideration on her profession.
{The teenager} was barely identified exterior of tennis earlier than this 12 months however is now one of many largest stars within the recreation.
“I do not assume you might probably do it any higher than she did it [at the U.S. Open],” McEnroe added. “That is insane that she’s been in a position to do that.”
“In fact, stress comes with that, expectation comes with that. I am positive she expects to win much more transferring ahead.”
