Caroline Wozniacki defended Emma Raducanu against John Isner’s comments questioning the significance of her remarkable US Open victory. Raducanu made history in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to clinch a Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-year-old breezed through 10 consecutive matches without dropping a set to secure the championship in a thrilling final against Leylah Fernandez. Meanwhile, Valentin Vacherot’s surprise win at the Shanghai Masters last month also drew attention as he became the lowest-ranked player ever to claim a Masters title.
Vacherot’s path to victory included defeating top players like Novak Djokovic before ultimately triumphing over his cousin in the final. Isner argued that Vacherot’s achievement overshadowed Raducanu’s success at the US Open, citing the Frenchman’s limited previous main-level victories.
In response, Wozniacki emphasized the significance of winning a Grand Slam title, stating that it surpasses other accomplishments in the sport. The retired American player’s comments on a podcast sparked a debate about the level of difficulty between winning a Grand Slam and a Masters title.
Wozniacki, a former Australian Open champion, recently made a comeback in professional tennis after briefly retiring in 2022. Despite giving birth to her third child in July, Wozniacki resumed competing in major tournaments, including the US Open and Indian Wells Open.
Raducanu, on the other hand, has faced challenges in replicating her US Open success. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she expressed the ongoing pressure of living up to her past achievements and the difficulty of moving past comparisons to her historic victory.
Raducanu also shared her experience with therapy, revealing that she tried it briefly but found it challenging to relate to others due to her unique journey in tennis. She emphasized the importance of self-reliance and staying focused on her current goals despite the lingering expectations from her past accomplishments.