Outrage as Eddie Jones blasts Raducanu over “distractions” before backtracking
Raducanu found herself on the receiving end of criticism from England rugby head coach Eddie Jones last week, as he commented on Raducanu’s recent defeats while trying to protect Marcus Smith, after the young star was instrumental in England’s dominant 69-3 win over Tonga.
“The big thing for good young players is distractions, the distractions could be the exposure they get in the media, the praise they get, the criticism they get,” Jones said, in a warning to 20-year-old Smith.
“There can be groups of agents who see this guy as the next big thing. There’s a reason why the young girl who won the US Open hasn’t done so well afterwards.
“What have you seen her on – the front page of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar or whatever it is, wearing Christian Dior clothes. All that is a distraction around her.”
He was slammed for his remarks after failing to refer to Raducanu by name, while it was also pointed out at the time that the world No 20 had played just two events since winning the US Open, winning two matches and losing two.
Many also noted that a British Vogue photoshoot and interview she took part in was not a cover story, and was shot weeks before Raducanu even won the US Open, and before she flew to America for the summer hard-court swing.