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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to understand the hate for Emma Raducanu?

141 replies

Rococococo · 17/04/2022 15:08

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?

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/04/2022 16:20

I haven't seen any hate towards her.

GrouchyKiwi · 17/04/2022 16:21

I've seen a lot of horrible sneering comments about her.

Yes, she was very hyped up, but winning the US Open as a qualifier, beating people ranked over 100 places above her, was an incredible achievement so of course a lot was made of her.

And now awful people are enjoying the fact that she's playing more at the level you'd expect from someone her age and experience. It's really unpleasant.

I like her. I think she's a lovely, grounded young woman, and as long as she's given the space needed to grow and develop her game she'll do well.

DownNative · 17/04/2022 16:25

If there is any hate directed at Emma Raducanu, she should look at the mentality of sporting greats who overcame it.

Cristiano Ronaldo was an object of derision when he first came to England to play for Man United. He won his detractors over by working hard to improve himself. Having won almost everything and set every record going in football, he still has his haters.

His mentality is "Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable". He uses it as motivation to do better. Never complain and never explain, basically. He wanted to be the best. He's very strong psychologically.

Emma Raducanu needs to do the same and develop an elite mentality.

nancy75 · 17/04/2022 16:26

For everyone saying they’ve not seen hate towards her - have a look at the comments section every time the Daily Mail run a story on her, there usually plenty to see.
She trains frequently at the club I work for, she’s a lovely girl who has always got time to chat to the kids playing at the club & has been a real boost for grass roots tennis (you’ll be lucky to find space in tennis lessons where I live)

GrouchyKiwi · 17/04/2022 16:27

@nancy75

For everyone saying they’ve not seen hate towards her - have a look at the comments section every time the Daily Mail run a story on her, there usually plenty to see. She trains frequently at the club I work for, she’s a lovely girl who has always got time to chat to the kids playing at the club & has been a real boost for grass roots tennis (you’ll be lucky to find space in tennis lessons where I live)
Also on any BBC article shared on social media.
CailleachGranda · 17/04/2022 16:28

Huge tennis fan and I think she's great and is coping with her sudden fame well

I've not seen hate. But then I don't read the Daily Mail. Twitter is a vile cesspit and should be avoided. It's not a true reflection on life

tkwal · 17/04/2022 16:38

To put it in non sporting terms , winning the open was like passing your driving test in a ferrari.
The "media" hyped her up as the next Serena Williams they were so sure she would conquer everything in her path. The pressure on her in every tournament since has been immense. She needs to be given time and space for her resilience to develop and to consolidate her training. Consistency is impossible until she has the perfect combination of technique , stamina, fitness and inner strength so I wish she could be appreciated and nurtured rather than belittled every time she makes a mistake

Words · 17/04/2022 16:41

As soon as she failed to win whatever the next thing was, I knew the knives were drawn.

I think the dreadful irritating dialogue these young people are taught in order to deal with media interviews in which they discuss motivation ( rarely failure) in that oddly flat yet sing song way is flawed too.

If they are young, white and middle class they can come across as whiny, self centred and empty headed. ( ' privileged?')

It's overlooked if they win, but if they never live up to initial promise, may the wrath descend.

EsmeSusanOgg · 17/04/2022 16:43

I am so bummed (but not surprised) to hear she has received hate. She seems lovely and her joy in doing well at something she clearly adores was wonderful to watch.

Snoozer11 · 17/04/2022 16:45

@MumstedInadequate

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.

Working class origins?!

Her parents work in the city.

Nishkin · 17/04/2022 16:47

Beware of what you read too, there was a headline suggesting Sloane Stephens had slated her after their match- I looked up the interview o YouTube and it was nothing of the sort- was actually quite supportive

Snoozer11 · 17/04/2022 16:50

I too haven't seen hate, but I have seen people decrying the "hate".

It's always the same. People have a negative thought and assume that everyone else has had the same thought. But the also assume that everyone else is cruel, less kind than them and need putting in their place.

And so the sweeter than sweet person who had the negative thought appoints themselves gatekeeper and lectures others about making comments and tells us to just "be kind".

It happens whenever someone who comes from an oppressed group commits a terrible crime.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/04/2022 16:53

have a look at the comments section every time the Daily Mail run a story on her

But that is not personal to her. The comments section in the Daily Mail is basically a cry for help from losers who could drum up hate for a baby panda.

knowinglesseveryday · 17/04/2022 16:56

You're spreading it, actually, OP.

SillySallySassySausage · 17/04/2022 16:56

But that is not personal to her. The comments section in the Daily Mail is basically a cry for help from losers who could drum up hate for a baby panda.

I thought similar but couldn't put the words together Grin the comments section of The Fail shouldn't be regarded as any sort of real life reflection on the wider society.

FrydayFish · 17/04/2022 17:27

What's the Kim Clijsters “princesses” comment?

Rococococo · 17/04/2022 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

billy1966 · 17/04/2022 18:24

I haven't read anything like that.
I think she is fantastic.
An amazing player and an incredible achievement.
We are a tennis family and I thought she came across as a lovely, hugely hardworking and talented young woman.

I never thought she would stay in professional tennis for long though.

I think she is great.

EarringsandLipstick · 17/04/2022 18:27

Where's your evidence of this 'hate', OP?

thing47 · 17/04/2022 18:35

DH has worked for the LTA and says she's been on their radar for years, and has been a top player in every age group. The surprise was that she made her breakthrough so much sooner (and younger) than everyone expected and thus the expectations of her are unrealistic for someone who is only in her first year playing on the circuit – it's not just the tennis that's tough, it's the travelling (and being away from home), recruiting the right coaching team, having to focus on your sport to the exclusion of everything else etc etc.

Most experts think it will be at least this whole year and possibly well into next before she starts fulfilling the promise she showed in winning the US Open.

Libertaire · 17/04/2022 18:45

This is Emma’s first year on the Tour and she still has a huge amount to learn about the realities being a professional tennis player and living on the road for the majority of the year. It’s a world which isn’t as glamorous as it may seem from the outside. Last week, for example, was the first time she had ever played competitively on clay, and it showed. It’s clear that she also needs to toughen up physically, but that’s all part of the learning process.

Give the girl a chance. She’s young, bright, talented and extremely ‘marketable’, which is a double-edged sword. The good part is that if she is successful global brands will be fighting to throw money at her. The not so good part is that the sport is desperate to find a new Number 1 to be the face of women’s tennis after Barty’s retirement which was a huge blow to it, and they will be looking to Emma to fill that role, with all the pressures it entails.

starlingdarling · 17/04/2022 19:38

Tall poppy syndrome. Something my years of travels has taught me is a speciality of the British.

Goldijobsandthe3bears · 17/04/2022 19:43

People that hate on young people especially ones they don’t even know seem very odd to me.

JengaTower · 17/04/2022 20:06

I've never seen any hate towards her but would just ignore it and get on with my life if I did

Boxowine · 17/04/2022 20:12

People are jealous and viscous. I thought she seemed delighted with her win and was very happy for her. Apparently that's upsetting for petty people. I think female tennis players get a lot of flack. Look at how Naomi Osaka is treated. I wonder if it is because they are women, there are not many sports where women compete individually and are as commercially succesful as men.

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