Tennis legend John McEnroe has accused Emma Raducanu of using “iffy” tactics during her Australian Open victory against Amanda Anisimova on Thursday morning.
The British star’s decision to call for medical attention during the second set has drawn criticism from the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Speaking on Eurosport, McEnroe suggested the medical timeouts may have disrupted Anisimova’s rhythm during their second-round clash in Melbourne.
The controversial stoppages came as Raducanu battled through back pain en route to a straight-sets victory.
Tennis legend John McEnroe has accused Emma Raducanu of using “iffy” tactics during her Australian Open victory against Amanda Anisimova on Thursday morning
GETTY/REUTERS
Raducanu’s victory sets up a highly anticipated third-round match against world number two Iga Swiatek.
The 22-year-old Briton was forced to call for the trainer multiple times during the match due to back problems.
Despite the physical challenges, Raducanu managed to overcome Anisimova in straight sets.
Emma Raducanu is through to the third round of the Australian Open after beating Amanda Anisimova on Thursday morning
REUTERS
The win marks a significant achievement for Raducanu, who entered the Australian Open without any competitive matches in 2025.
McEnroe elaborated on his concerns, telling Eurosport: “She called the trainer a couple times on the court during the second set against Anisimova so it looks kind of iffy what was going to happen. I don’t know if that threw Anisimova off, but it worked.”
The American tennis great did acknowledge Raducanu’s potential against Swiatek, noting: “To me, when you play a top player like Iga who’s not as comfortable on hard courts as she is on clay, it’s a good time to play her.”
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Former British men’s No. 1 Tim Henman believes Raducanu can challenge Swiatek in their upcoming clash.
Henman emphasised the importance of match experience for Raducanu’s development.
“She needs to keep this physical resilience to keep her confidence on the match court,” Henman said.
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He added: “She’s obviously playing against the world number two, Swiatek, who is a brilliant player, but hard courts are not her favourite surface, so Raducanu needs to go in with a clear game plan.”
Raducanu’s Australian Open campaign marks a significant comeback following a challenging period in her career.
The former US Open champion underwent surgery on both wrists and her ankle in mid-2023.
Emma Raducanu will lock horns with Iga Swiatek in the next round of the Australian Open
REUTERS
Her 2023 and 2024 seasons were heavily disrupted by injury problems as a result, even though she was able to climb up the world rankings.
This makes her current run in Melbourne particularly impressive, as she continues to show signs of returning to her best form.
The upcoming match against Swiatek will be a crucial test of her recovery and competitive level.
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