Caroline Wozniacki came to Emma Raducanu’s defense following John Isner’s comments questioning the significance of her remarkable US Open victory compared to another recent tennis upset. Raducanu made history in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows, defeating Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling final without dropping a set in 10 consecutive matches as a teenager.
In a similar vein, Valentin Vacherot’s surprising win at the Shanghai Masters last month, where he became the lowest-ranked player ever to secure a Masters title by defeating top players including Novak Djokovic, also garnered attention. Isner contended that Vacherot’s achievement overshadowed Raducanu’s feat, citing its improbability despite the latter’s US Open victory being a bigger story.
Wozniacki, a former tennis star herself, disagreed with Isner’s perspective, emphasizing that winning a Grand Slam title like Raducanu did holds greater weight than any other accomplishment in the sport. The retired American player’s controversial statement was made on the Nothing Major Show following Vacherot’s triumph, where he highlighted the Frenchman’s limited success prior to his unexpected victory in Shanghai.
Wozniacki, a former Australian Open champion, reiterated the significance of winning a Grand Slam, affirming that Raducanu’s US Open victory surpasses other achievements in tennis. Despite stepping away from professional tennis in 2022 and subsequently making a comeback in 2023, Wozniacki acknowledged the enduring impact of winning a major title compared to other tournament victories.
Raducanu, on the other hand, has faced challenges in maintaining the success she achieved at the US Open, acknowledging the weight of comparisons to that memorable night in New York. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Raducanu reflected on the lasting impact of her US Open win, admitting that the comparisons continue to linger in her mind even years later.
She also shared her experience with therapy, revealing that she tried it briefly but found it difficult to relate to others due to the uniqueness of her journey. Raducanu expressed a self-reliant approach to handling the pressures and expectations post-US Open, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on her current aspirations and growth.