Caroline Wozniacki defended Emma Raducanu against John Isner’s comments questioning the significance of her remarkable US Open victory. Raducanu, a British tennis sensation, made history in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-year-old, who was a teenager at the time, impressively won the championship without dropping a set in 10 consecutive matches, culminating in a thrilling final against Leylah Fernandez.
In another surprising tennis achievement, Valentin Vacherot recently became the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters title at Shanghai, defeating top players like Novak Djokovic along the way. Isner suggested that Vacherot’s accomplishment outweighed Raducanu’s success at the US Open.
Wozniacki, a former Australian Open champion, disagreed with Isner’s assessment, emphasizing that winning a Grand Slam title holds more significance than any other tennis achievement. She highlighted that even though Raducanu’s victory at the US Open was a major story, claiming a Grand Slam title surpasses other feats.
Wozniacki, who retired in 2022 but returned to the sport in 2023, expressed her belief that winning the US Open is more prestigious than triumphing at events like the Shanghai Masters. Despite giving birth to her third child, Wozniacki continues to compete in notable tournaments.
Raducanu, on the other hand, has not replicated her US Open success since that memorable night in New York. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she admitted that comparisons to her US Open victory still linger in her mind, acknowledging the ongoing challenge of living up to that achievement.
Raducanu shared that she briefly tried therapy to cope with the changes in her life post-US Open win but discontinued after two sessions, feeling that her experiences were unique and difficult for others to relate to. She emphasized the importance of self-reliance in navigating her journey as a professional athlete.