England coach Eddie Jones under fire over Emma Raducanu comments ‘based on sexism and misogyny’

Tennis News
Emma Raducanu plays a shot

The sporting community has blasted England Rugby Union coach Eddie Jones over his “sexist” comments about US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

In an attempt to keep rising rugby star Marcus Smith grounded, Jones used Raducanu as a warning of what can happen when a player gets “distracted” after success.

“There’s a reason why the young girl who won the US Open hasn’t done so well afterwards,” the Australian said. “What have you seen her on – the front page of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar or whatever, wearing Christian Dior clothes.”

Eddie Jones criticised for ‘uninformed, irresponsible, sexist’ comments about Emma Raducanu

Jones’ comments came on the back of Raducanu losing two matches following her title run at Flushing Meadows. On the other side of the coin, the teenager has won the other two matches she has played on the WTA Tour since becoming the first qualifier to win a major.

The England mentor has been slammed with former British tennis No 1 Jo Durie unimpressed by the sexist comments.

“Emma isn’t a girl; she is an 18-year-old woman. No-one ever complains about blokes going to galas; it’s always something that is thrown at women,” she told The Telegraph.

“Unfortunately, when you’re this famous, everybody likes to have their opinion about you.”

BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan took to Twitter to criticise Jones, writing: “Unbelievably unfair and not even remotely comparable. She is 18 in her first 6 months of being pro she made the second week of Wimbledon and won US Open having never played on the tour.
Imagine an 18 year old rugby player winning a World Cup having never played a club game.”

Former hockey Olympic gold-medallist Kate Richardson-Walsh explained why Jones’ comments were sexist.

“Those comments are based on sexism and misogyny and I think that’s at the core of it,” she said.

“It’s about who holds power and who we are happy to have power. I’ve forgotten people’s names before but it’s not well informed – she was doing fashion magazine shoots before the US Open.

“Why is it negative for women to have money and connections with brands and businesses? The message is for us to focus on one thing, you can’t multitask, you can’t have it all.

“The history of male sport is of how many athletes have prospered and done other things that they like in their lives.

“Sport has moved on – maybe 20 years ago it was different. Now it’s about holistic care for people and what makes them happy.”

Emma Raducanu

Latest