Not to understand the hate for Emma Raducanu?

[Rococococo]

I really don’t get why she’s the object of so much derision? Ok she hasn’t achieved much since she won the US open and yes, a lot of the media hype WAS insane. But that wasn’t her fault and the mockery and schadenfreude from people online (Twitter, forums, news site comments etc) feels over the top.

Even her achievement in winning the US open is constantly belittled as an undeserved fluke. Maybe that’s true, I’m not a tennis expert so don’t have a clue. But I’m shocked by the glee so many people seem to be taking in her losses. It’s like she’s become a universal object of scorn.

There’s just something really unpleasant about it. It feels like it goes beyond the bit of negativity that all people in the public eye get at times. AIBU?

I didn’t realise there was ‘hate’? I thought most people either liked her or had no strong feelings.

I feel sorry for, the media does like to build someone up and knock them down. They went too far promoting her as next big tennis star, she may well be the next one but leave off with the pressure.

I’ve not seen any “hate” …

I haven't noticed any hate towards her but then that's not the sort of aticle I read in the news anyway but unfortunately I'm not at all surprised it's happening because that's what seems to happen so often now. The press and maybe people in general seem so desperate to pull people down if they do well. How many times have we seeen it happen?

Maybe her win was a fluke, maybe she will be truly great and is just going through a run of bad luck at the moment, I have no idea but I wish her well whichever it is. She seems lovely.

I agree OP.

It's not helped by some players making less than helpful comments too.

Who hates her?

I hadn’t clocked any hate towards her, probably because I’m not on social media, but I think she’s fabulous. Still very young, too, and I’m sure there’s more glory to come for her. She’s obviously a young woman who achieves whatever she sets her mind on.

First I've heard about any hate.

Only seen positive media so far.

It's not helped by some players making less than helpful comments too.

The Kim Clijsters “princesses” thing? Yeah, absolutely no need for that?

I'm a fan, I love tennis - it's my sport.

I had only really registered the "pedestal fame" that she got for winning the US open and the resulting backlash when she didn't immediately win anything else. She's extremely young and still on the bottom rungs of her career, I'm sure if she continues, injury free, she will hit greatness. She certainly has the sponsorship she needs to be able to concentrate on her career/fitness and really put her all into it, she's very talented.

Hate wise, I don't think it's a stretch to say race is an issue. I heard some sneers at the time that she "wasn't British" due to being born elsewhere and to Chinese/Romanian parents.

Speaking personally I don't hate her. I don't like tennis but she's made me watch again as I enjoyed watching her win in the US open. I hope she manages to make a success of it.

I see a lot of sleazy blokes fawning over her on Twitter. Some people are just nasty.

Greg Rutherford was a similar victim of the fluke-sters. Seems like people can only be happy for you in sport if you beat 2012 Usain Bolt - anything else just doesn't cut it.

I've not seen any hate either..

I've not seen any hate. She comes across well and is obviously a good tennis player. The media however loves to put people on a pedestal only to smash them back down later.

I’ve not seen any hate.

I think you are trying to drum something out of nothing Op - go do something else. If you are concerned about her this is not the way to help.

She's young, non white, working class origins, female...and she won something against the odds and not much since apparently?

That's pretty much a perfect set up for online derision and yes, hate.

Not aware of this. I think she’s great!

@SillySallySassySausage

I'm a fan, I love tennis - it's my sport.

I had only really registered the "pedestal fame" that she got for winning the US open and the resulting backlash when she didn't immediately win anything else. She's extremely young and still on the bottom rungs of her career, I'm sure if she continues, injury free, she will hit greatness. She certainly has the sponsorship she needs to be able to concentrate on her career/fitness and really put her all into it, she's very talented.

Hate wise, I don't think it's a stretch to say race is an issue. I heard some sneers at the time that she "wasn't British" due to being born elsewhere and to Chinese/Romanian parents.

I agree.

She really comes across like a lovely person and I've enjoyed watching her play.

I think you are trying to drum something out of nothing Op - go do something else. If you are concerned about her this is not the way to help.

How wonderfully sanctimonious 😂 thank you.

I’m not attempting to help her

Oops posted too soon. I’m not attempting to ‘help’ Emma Raducanu by posting on here Just trying to make sense of the overwhelming negativity I see directed at her online.

She's a young, successful woman. Of course people hate her.

She's young, talented, attractive. And female. That's what makes her a target.

I think she seems rather sweet. Her reaction on winning was such a lovely "little girl" excitement, and I can totally understand how she may be struggling with expectation after that.
Dm used to say that it's easier to be a giant killer than a giant whether you're winning or losing, and it's true. It's far easier mentally to go into a match you're not expected to win than go into one where you feel people will be pointing fingers if you don't do as well as expected-and that can include not winning by as much.

I do think that several people, particularly ladies, have said unhelpful things. A certain amount I suspect is jealousy. It's unhelpful for the game, and unhelpful for Emma who has to work and play against these people while feeling that they will sneer at her if she does do badly.

And, yes, she has had a few injuries and ailments that the press has played up. The blisters for example. At the top of the tennis world a blister can definitely win/lose a match. There isn't that much in it, so having something like that can effect your game. I've had a blister that meant I could hardly get a shoe on. I wouldn't have been running very far with that.

I hope that British Tennis do look at her mental health as well as the physical and I hope that the top players actually take the time to stop and realise how mental health needs to be prioritised for all players, but especially the younger ones as they learn to deal with the spotlight.

I was not aware of any hate towards her. I do not follow tennis, so have no real knowledge about it.

I also haven’t heard of hate towards her but can well imagine some media outlets taking that stance.

I think she’s awesome and has played fantastically well.