Emma Raducanu comment leaves fans speechless amid uproar – 'Unheard of'
Emma Raducanu fans have been left fuming at former world number eight John Isner after he claimed Valentin Vacherot's Shanghai Masters win was more impressive than the Brit's US Open triumph
Tennis fans have been swift to dismiss former world No. 8 John Isner. The reaction comes following his remarks about Emma Raducanu and Monegasque player Valentin Vacherot, 26, after the latter's victory at the Shanghai Masters.
Vacherot sat at 204th in the world rankings before claiming the tournament. He enjoyed a remarkable journey to glory, defeating Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, before overcoming his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, to secure the title.
The unexpected champion prompted memories of British star Raducanu's extraordinary exploits at the US Open in 2021, when she stunned the tennis world by becoming a Grand Slam winner aged just 18.
On the Nothing Major podcast, which he presents alongside former professionals Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson, Isner pondered Vacherot's accomplishment and how it measured against Raducanu's feat four years earlier, reports the Express.
He said: "I think it is more impressive [what Vacherot did], yes. But Raducanu, it's a bigger story because it's the US Open. I think this is more improbable than what she did.
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu's prize money compared to Aryna Sabalenka's says a lot as record to shatterREAD MORE: Emma Raducanu needs medics again in worrying scenes before Ningbo Open exit"But obviously, it being the US Open makes it a bigger story, even though this story is really big in the tennis world. But yeah, I'm giving it to Vacherot there because it's unheard of."
Fans have responded to those remarks on social media, with one user saying: "I think there is serious recency bias involved here. A qualifier winning a masters is not unheard of. A qualifier winning a slam is. Emma was 18 playing only her second grand slam event and hadn't even won a match on the WTA tour. She won 10 matches and Vacherot nine."
Another user added: "Emma was 18 and had just finished school. She was a rookie and a qualifier who won without losing a set. A Slam. Bigger than a 28-year-old qualifier winning a Masters irrespective of who they faced. You can only play who is in front of you."
A third said: "What? Nothing compares to Raducanu's run. She was quite literally a qualifier and won a slam. Unheard of."
One tennis fan offered a blunt response, saying: "What a horrible take. Firstly, I am not interested in what John Isner thinks about anything."
Another shared: "Secondly, what Raducanu and Vacherot separately achieved are both amazing. Massive congrats to both of them."
Raducanu has yet to secure another major in her career, due to a variety of factors from form to injuries. However, this only underscores how remarkable her achievement truly was.