‘These women are EMBARRASSING’ – Fans slam former US Open champion for turning her back on generations of female players who fought for equality
Emma Raducanu has ignited a firestorm of controversy after refusing to take a stand on equal pay in tennis, declaring she “doesn’t play for money” – despite pocketing £2million from her US Open triumph and millions more in sponsorship deals.
The 22-year-old British star’s shocking comments have sparked fury among tennis fans and women’s rights advocates, with many pointing out the bitter irony of her stance given she has earned more off-court than on it since her fairytale 2021 victory.
In an astonishing interview ahead of the Queen’s Championships, Raducanu was asked why she had remained silent on the issue of WTA players earning significantly less than their male counterparts – and her response has left the tennis world stunned.
‘I’M NEVER GOING TO TAKE A STAND’
When pressed on the ongoing pay gap debate that has divided tennis for decades, Raducanu’s response was as brief as it was controversial.
“I just prefer to kind of not get involved and just whatever,” she said dismissively.
The former world No 10 then doubled down, declaring: “I’m never really going to take a stand either way.”
In perhaps her most tone-deaf comment, the multi-millionaire added: “I don’t feel like I really am playing for money.”
FANS ERUPT IN FURY
Tennis fans immediately took to social media to express their outrage at Raducanu’s comments, with one posting on X: “These women are embarrassing.
The backlash was swift and brutal, with many pointing to the historic efforts of trailblazers like Billie Jean King who fought tooth and nail for equality in the sport.
Emma Raducanu has said she is ‘never going to take a stand’ on equal pay for women in tennis because she doesn’t feel like she is ‘playing for money’,” posted the Tennis Weekly Podcast, sparking hundreds of angry responses.
One fan wrote: “Americans should be banned from competitive tennis,” in a sarcastic jibe at Raducanu’s privileged stance.
THE HYPOCRISY EXPOSED
The bitter irony of Raducanu’s comments was not lost on critics who pointed out that the British star has earned an estimated £10million in sponsorship deals since her US Open triumph.
At one point, she was juggling lucrative contracts with:
- British Airways
- Vodafone (which ended after she reportedly demanded “too much money”)
- Tiffany & Co
- Dior
- Evian
- Wilson
- Nike
- HSBC
Her career prize money stands at over £4million ($5million), including the £1.8million ($2.5million) she received for winning the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier.
CONTRADICTING HERSELF
Adding to the controversy, Raducanu’s latest stance directly contradicts her own previous comments on the issue.
Just last year, she told The Times: “The prize money gap is huge on the ATP Tour, which I don’t necessarily think is fair.
She had also argued that “a lot of women’s players are technically better” than men, adding: “They rely on speed, agility and brain rather than brute strength.
The dramatic U-turn has left many questioning what – or who – has influenced her change of heart.
‘EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE’ ADMISSION
In a stunning moment of self-awareness during the same interview, Raducanu admitted that tennis is “extremely expensive” to sustain, especially with her profile.
Yet somehow, the woman who employs a full-time team including coaches, fitness trainers, physiotherapists and agents – all funded by her tennis earnings – claims money isn’t her motivation.
The disconnect between her words and reality has infuriated those who see her stance as a betrayal of female players struggling to make ends meet on the lower-tier tours.
TURNING HER BACK ON HISTORY
Raducanu’s refusal to engage with the equal pay debate is particularly galling given the sacrifices made by previous generations of female players.
Billie Jean King famously threatened to boycott the US Open in 1973 unless women received equal prize money, while Venus Williams successfully lobbied Wimbledon for pay parity in 2007.
The WTA itself was founded in 1973 specifically to fight for equal treatment and prize money for female players – a battle that continues today at most tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
THE BRUTAL REALITY
While Grand Slams now offer equal prize money, the gap at other tournaments remains stark:
- At many ATP 1000 events, men’s champions earn double what women receive
- Lower-tier tournaments see even wider disparities
- The total ATP prize money pool dwarfs that of the WTA
- Male players consistently out-earn females in the year-end rankings
For Raducanu to dismiss these inequalities with a casual “whatever” has been seen as a slap in the face to players fighting for fairness.
PRIVILEGE ON DISPLAY
Critics have pointed out that Raducanu’s stance reeks of privilege – easy to “not play for money” when you’ve already banked millions and come from a comfortable background.
The British star’s parents funded her junior career, sending her to elite training academies and providing the best coaching money could buy.
For players from less privileged backgrounds, the prize money gap can mean the difference between continuing their careers or being forced to quit the sport entirely.
SPONSORSHIP STRUGGLES
Ironically, Raducanu’s commercial appeal appears to be waning alongside her controversial comments.
Vodafone ended their partnership in April 2025 after she reportedly demanded excessive fees, while questions remain about the status of her other sponsorship deals.
The woman who once commanded appearance fees of £100,000+ may find brands less eager to associate with someone who refuses to support equality.
ON-COURT STRUGGLES CONTINUE
As controversy swirls off-court, Raducanu’s tennis continues to disappoint, with her 2025 season marked by early exits and ongoing injury concerns.
Currently ranked outside the world’s top 40, she has won just one match against a top-10 player in her entire career and was recently demolished 6-1, 6-2 by both Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.
Her quarter-final run at Queen’s ended with another injury withdrawal, raising familiar questions about her commitment to the sport versus commercial pursuits.
THE BACKLASH BEGINS
As news of Raducanu’s comments spreads, the backlash from within tennis is growing.
Several current WTA players have privately expressed disappointment at her stance, while former players have been more vocal in their criticism.
One former top-10 player, speaking anonymously, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing. She’s benefited from the fights others had before her, and now she won’t stand up for the next generation.”
A LEGACY TARNISHED?
What should have been a glorious career built on that magical New York fortnight in 2021 increasingly looks like a cautionary tale of misplaced priorities and tone-deaf privilege.
By refusing to support equal pay while simultaneously cashing in on her fame, Raducanu has potentially alienated the very fans who cheered her fairytale run.
As one commentator brutally put it: “She’s gone from Britain’s sweetheart to Britain’s sellout in record time.
The question now is whether Raducanu can recover from this self-inflicted wound – or if her refusal to fight for equality will permanently damage her already fragile reputation.
Nuță Lucian. “Emma Raducanu at 2021 Transylvania Open practice.” Photo taken on 24 October 2021 at 16:01 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, capturing Emma Raducanu during a practice session at the Transylvania Open commons.wikimedia.org+3en.m.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/).
