Raducanu rejects Jones claim that off-court exploits cause dip in form
‘Zoned in’ Emma Raducanu rejects claims by England rugby boss Eddie Jones that her appearances on Vogue and at the Met Gala have contributed to her struggles on court since the stunning US Open triumph
- Eddie Jones questioned Emma Raducanu’s decisions after her US Open win
- Raducanu has been in Vogue and made other high-profile appearances
- Jones said that her ‘distractions’ have made her struggle for form post-US Open
Emma Raducanu has dismissed claims by England rugby boss Eddie Jones that her off-court adventures have impacted her performances since winning the US Open.
The 18-year-old Raducanu shot to prominence across the world of tennis and beyond with her stunning US Open victory in September.
But since then, she has lost matches at Indian Wells, the Transylvania Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linsz to opponents who are below her in the world rankings.
Emma Raducanu (pictured above at the Met Gala) has rejected claims by Eddie Jones that her off-court decisions have hindered her form in the aftermath of her stunning US Open victory
Jones said that ‘distractions’ are behind Raducanu not doing so well since the US Open
Raducanu, 18, stunned the world of tennis with her US Open triumph in September
England boss Jones said of Raducanu: ‘The big thing for good young players is distractions, the distractions could be the exposure they get in the media, the praise they get, the criticism they get.
‘There can be groups of agents who see this guy as the next big thing. There’s a reason why the young girl who won the US Open hasn’t done so well afterwards.
‘What have you seen her on – the front page of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar or whatever it is, wearing Christian Dior clothes. All that is a distraction around her.’
Since winning in New York the 18-year-old Raducanu has signed deals with Dior and Tiffany & Co jewellers, as well as appearing in Sports Direct’s Christmas advert alongside Manchester City’s midfielder Jack Grealish. In the aftermath of her US Open win, she made a high-profile appearance at the Met Gala.
She has played four competitive tennis matches since her Grand Slam victory, winning two and losing two.
‘I think that many people are going to have opinions of me and what I’m doing,’ Raducanu said, according to The Mirror.
‘I just know I’m staying focused with a small circle around me. I have my parents, who would 100 per cent let me know if I was getting swayed. I am very zoned in.’
In recent weeks, Raducanu has lost matches against opponents ranked lower than herself
Raducanu lost against China’s Wang Xinyu in the Upper Austria Ladies tournament
Fans also criticised Jones’ remarks, with one writing: ‘What a ridiculous comment.’
Another added: ‘What a cheap shot, from a cheap coach. He should be ashamed, but he won’t be.’
‘Emma Raducanu, a school girl goes from 343 in world rankings to 21, reached the quarter-finals of her last competition whilst only playing a few tournaments on tour.
‘She even won her first GS (Grand Slam) before even winning on the WTA circuit.
‘Nasty comments about a successful teenager,’ another furious fan said.
Raducanu parted ways with her coach, Andrew Richardson, after her US Open victory.
She has since confirmed the appointment of Hamburg-based Torben Beltz, 44, who has spent much of his career guiding Germany’s highest achieving player of recent years.
Social media was quick to denounce Jones’s remarks as ‘nonsense’ and a ‘cheap shot’
Raducanu (second left) split from former coach Andrew Richardson (second right) this year
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