Emma Raducanu speaks about withdrawing from Wimbledon.
(Picture: Photo courtesy of Duncan Toms/YouTube)After Emma Raducanu, the 18-year-old British tennis player whose impressive Wimbledon streak came to an end with her shock exit mid-way through a match has told fans she is “feeling much better” and that “the whole experience caught up with me.”
And fans have expressed their support of the teen and her wellbeing.
Raducanu says she had no choice but to withdraw in the fourth round of her tennis match in the second set with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic for medical reasons.
Due to medical reasons, Emma Raducanu has retired from this match - but what an incredible run to the fourth round it was 💚 💜#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/fmp6M0twDw
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Raducanu took to Twitter on Tuesday to publish a statement about the moment, and she began by congratulating Tomlijanovic for an “incredible performance”.
She then explained her departure from the game by and that she started to “breathe heavily and felt dizzy” after some intense sets.
“The medical team advised me not to continue. And although it felt like the hardest thing in the world not to be able to finish my Wimbledon on the court, I was not well enough to carry on,” she wrote .
She continued to give thanks to the fans that cheered her on every match as well as thanking her parents, friends, LTA, and the All England Club, while citing that she will “learn what it takes to perform at the top.”
“I will cherish everything we have achieved together this week and come back stronger! Can’t wait to see what’s next on my journey,” she concluded the statement.
Fans gave her an outpouring of support and reassurances that she had to do what was best for her and her health.
“You did everyone proud Emma... You will learn so much from this experience, you have a very bright future!” someone wrote.
“So glad your feeling better today, I remember having to step down once from an event due to anxiety, feeling very dizzy and I couldn’t find my balance, you played so well I know we will see u play many many more times in the future rest and remember your dreams are still yours,” another added.
Check out some of the other responses below.
Well done on this most fantastic achievement🎉🎉🎉🎉 We're looking forward to your next match appearance. You've brought a fresh energy and hunger for the game that had us on the edge of our seats! Best wishes with the A level results🤞
— Chris (@cafemaths) July 6, 2021
glad you are feeling better and can't wait to support you in upcoming tournaments this is just the start of your journey what an incredible run and great achievement you have a bright future ❤pic.twitter.com/t6DxRYEaY7
— Laura (@lolasdandelions) July 6, 2021
You did yourself proud, you’re a credit to not just the game but our country. Your future is bright!
— Jools Evelyn (@joolsevelyn) July 6, 2021
You are young. And brilliant. You have time to learn from this and prepare.
— Fionna O'Leary, 🕯🇪🇺 (@fascinatorfun) July 6, 2021
@EmmaRaducanu The effort that she put into tennis whilst completing her A-Levels is what should be remembered…and she may not win a title at Wimbledon in 2021…but she will win in the future, she can do it… #Wimbledon 🎾🏆
— K E I K O (@KeikoMolly) July 6, 2021
You did us all proud. Thank you, you’ll be back again and we’ll be behind you. Never listen to the idiots, but to quote @Martina enjoy your tennis! You’re fabulous.
— Greg Baker (@greg_baker) July 6, 2021
This is so refreshing and honest. I've felt that playing football at amateur level. I can not imagine what it is like to play at the elite level. The crowd so close to you. It must be so challenging. You've got an amazing future. This is a lesson. I think you will smash it!
— James (@jimmydoris1986) July 6, 2021
Ignore anyone that says anything nasty, the right decision based on medics and how you yourself felt
— Alex 💙 (@AlexFi1978) July 6, 2021
People seem to quickly forgot that sometimes even athletes have blips in how they physically feel on a day - just remind them of the Denmark opener to Euros as to the unknowns
Absolutely no need to be sorry Emma! This week was the most fun I’ve had watching tennis and I can’t wait to see you back out there smiling and competing for every point.
— Rhys Lewis (@RhysDLewis) July 6, 2021
This stuff happens to all of us, and in much less impressive situations than competing in elite sport!!
She is the youngest British woman to reach the second week at SW19 in the Open era, and was an overnight sensation with extremely high hopes that she could obtain another win against Tomlijanovic, who is ranked 75th.
Tomlijanovic was able to withstand the amount of force and fortitude the teenager had to give take any openings set at 6-4, moving into the 3-0 to lead in the second.
In conversation with BBC, Raducanu said that she didn’t know what caused her breathing ailments but thinks it could've been a combination of everything that has gone on behind the scenes in the last week and accumulation of the excitement and the buzz.”
She also noted that she hadn’t seen her parents yet, but I spoke to them to “assure” her mother and father that all is well with her.
After her game commentator John McEnroe seemed to assume that she couldn’t handle the nature of the occasion.
He also seemed to link it to the incident that happened with Naomi Osaka as she withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon because of her experiences with anxiety and depression.
“I feel bad for Emma. It appears that I got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly what we’ve been talking about these last six weeks with Naomi Osaka not even here. How much can players handle? Hopefully, she’ll learn from this experience,” McEnroe said.
He also alluded to the idea that the late start of the game contributed to her feelings about the game and that it made her “think about it more.”
Tomlijanovic was also among the many people to criticise McEnroe’s comments about the situation, saying he was “too harsh.”
“For him to say that, it’s definitely harsh. I have experienced something similar, but not to that extent. I can’t imagine how she must be feeling having to pull out,” she said, in part.
Ultimately, despite Raducanu’s game-ending, there is no doubt that her future in the sport is bright as she climbed to the 175th ranking from her previous ranking of 338.
