Emma Raducanu responds to shock claim that she coldly declined selfie

Emma Raducanu has issued an explanation and apology after a viral post on X accused the British tennis player of refusing to take a selfie with a little girl who came to watch her practice. 

On Thursday evening in New York, Raducanu had a practice session at Flushing Meadows. Later, one person who was on the scene reported that the 2021 US Open champion abruptly finished her practice and pretty much stormed off the court – which left many stunned. 

“Emma Raducanu walked off grandstand. Declined to be interviewed or sign any signatures,” a person wrote on X.

In a post that followed, it was claimed that the on-court interviewer let Raducanu know that there was a kid just wanting a selfie and asked if she could at least fulfill that: “A little kid who was being interviewed said in the cutest voice, my favorite player is Emma Raducanu and the court interviewer tried to at least get her to take a pic with that little kid and she declined.”

A little kid who was being interviewed said in the cutest voice, my favorite player is Emma raducanu and the court interviewer tried to at least get her to take a pic with that little kid and she declined https://t.co/lMD1ODKMd2

— Kat (@idontmindk) August 22, 2024

One person came to Raducanu’s defense, saying that players are not mandated to give attention to fans. 

But the user who made the initial claims wasn’t buying it: “It was a little kid no more than 8 years old who while Emma was practicing, was interviewed by a USO staff member and said Emma was her favorite player. She didn’t need to sign or take pics with everyone but she could have at least taken one with her IMO.”

It was a little kid no more then 8 years old who while Emma was practicing, was interviewed by a USO staff memeber and said Emma was her favorite player. She didn’t need to sign or take pics with everyone but she could have at least taken one with her imo

— Kat (@idontmindk) August 22, 2024

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