The British suffered a surprising defeat against Anhelina Kalinina, who is ranked 30th in the world, at the Qatar Open. Tennis enthusiasts have proposed that the British star change her citizenship in order to regain her form. Since her victory at the US Open in 2021, the media, particularly in her home country, has heavily criticized her declining performance. Raducanu, who has not advanced past the second round in any of the four tournaments she has participated in recently, has struggled to regain momentum after being plagued by injuries. Despite her lack of victories, she has managed to secure sponsorship deals and endorsements, which has led critics to accuse her of underperforming. After her early exit from the Qatar Open, a fan on social media suggested that changing her nationality would alleviate the pressure she faces. The tweet stated that she deserves the time and space to develop on her own terms, away from the unreasonable expectations and constant criticism of the British press and public. However, other fans argued that Raducanu’s sponsorship deals were a result of her British nationality, and that her early success at the US Open opened doors to both fame and criticism. They claimed that if she were from a non-English speaking country, she would not have received the same level of support. It was acknowledged that winning the US Open set high expectations for Raducanu, but some fans believed that her victory was fortunate and that she would now always be judged by that achievement. Another fan mentioned that other young players, such as Jannik Sinner, have also faced similar treatment as they developed in the sport. The attention and media exposure may come with its downsides, but it also brings financial benefits. The British press continues to idolize Raducanu for her past success, and some fans believe that if she had less media attention, she would have a better chance to improve her game. It was also pointed out that Raducanu has Canadian heritage, which adds another layer to her identity. Some fans argued that Raducanu actively seeks media exposure through sponsorships, media events, and beauty contracts, and therefore, she has to accept the pressure and scrutiny that comes with it. Others agreed that in today’s world, top athletes must learn to ignore negative opinions and criticisms from social media and focus on their performance. With all the attention on Raducanu whenever she plays, she needs to find a way to improve on the court. In an interview with Sky Sports, she acknowledged that her struggle is due to a lack of practice caused by her numerous off-court commitments. After her early exit from the Qatar Open, Raducanu expressed her intention to practice more on outdoor courts. She lost to Anhelina Kalinina in a one-sided first set, where she struggled to handle her opponent’s powerful groundstrokes. However, she showed resilience in the second set, pushing it to a tie-break before ultimately losing to Kalinina’s excellent serve. Raducanu now has ample time to practice and rest before the Indian Wells Open on March 6 and the Miami Open on March 18.
According to the Source firstsportz.com