Emma Raducanu, the 21-year-old British tennis star, faced a tough end to her Korea Open campaign as she withdrew from her quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina due to a foot injury.
After losing the first set 6-1, Raducanu decided to stop playing, drawing criticism from internet trolls who mocked her withdrawal on social media. Some detractors on X (formerly Twitter) claimed that she didn’t even try to appear disappointed, sparking a wave of negative comments.
Despite the backlash, Kasatkina expressed her sympathy for Raducanu, saying:
“I feel sorry for Emma for retiring during the match. It’s a pity to get the injury, especially in the deeper stages of the tournament. I wish her a speedy recovery and hope she can get ready for the next tournament.”
Raducanu’s injury comes after an impressive run, defeating top-50 players Peyton Stearns and Yue Yuan. She was aiming to reach her second-ever WTA semi-final but now faces uncertainty about her participation in upcoming tournaments, including the China Open and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Raducanu remains optimistic, stating earlier that she aims to play as many matches as possible if she stays healthy.
