Emma Raducanu has addressed criticism regarding her decision to travel to Doha within 48 hours of her opening match, despite having an additional two days available to do so.
Last month, the British tennis star competed in the WTA’s Middle East swing, participating in the Abu Dhabi Open and Qatar Open. In the UAE’s capital, she secured her third win of the season by defeating Marie Bouzkova in straight sets.
However, her subsequent match against Ons Jabeur ended in defeat, with Raducanu losing 4-6, 1-6. This match against the Tunisian occurred on Wednesday, with Raducanu scheduled to appear in Doha the following week.
Due to her unseeded status, it was anticipated that she would play her first-round match in Doha on either Monday or Tuesday. However, Raducanu chose to prolong her time in the UAE and traveled to Dubai to attend the grand opening of a lavish hotel.
Among the attendees were notable figures such as British model Naomi Campbell and American actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens, with whom Raducanu shares a strong bond.
The grand opening of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel took place on Saturday night. Raducanu was seated alongside Naomi Campbell at the dining table and later took a photo with Hudgens.
The former World No. 10 traveled to Doha the next day and arrived in time to compete against Anhelina Kalinina in the first round on Tuesday afternoon. However, she struggled during the match, ultimately losing 0-6, 6-7. Following the match, the 21-year-old was highly critical of her own performance.
Raducanu faced criticism from the British press for her lackluster preparation for the Doha match, and it was only then that her glamorous appearance in Dubai became a topic on the front pages.
The former US Open champion expressed her dissatisfaction with the reaction and criticism, and she recently justified her decision-making in an interview with The Times.
In contrast to the prevailing notion that her trip to Dubai was solely for socializing with celebrities, Raducanu disclosed that she spent the four days there primarily for training. She emphasized that she only attended the star-studded dinner during her leisure time.
“I dedicated three hours to tennis training, followed by an hour and a half in the gym, and then allowed myself two hours of downtime in the evening. However, if there are better suggestions for how I should spend my free time from 8pm to 10pm, I’m open to hearing them.”
“It’s essentially training in Dubai followed by enjoying a pleasant dinner with a large group of people. The only distinction is that my dinner outings become publicized.”