Former American tennis player John Isner recently stated that Valentin Vacherot’s victory at the Shanghai Masters was more remarkable than Emma Raducanu’s triumph at the 2021 US Open. However, his comments ignited a debate online, with numerous fans criticizing his comparison and expressing their support for Raducanu.
How Did Fans Respond to John Isner’s Comparison of Emma Raducanu’s US Open Victory with Valentin Vacherot’s Shanghai Achievement?
Raducanu’s rapid ascent in the professional tennis circuit commenced at the 2021 US Open, where, at the age of 18, she astonished the tennis community. She overcame the odds to become the first qualifier, male or female, to secure a Grand Slam title in the Open Era. Her victory was particularly impressive as she did not drop a single set throughout the tournament.
On the other hand, Vacherot made history as the lowest-ranked player to ever win a Masters 1000 title. He entered the Shanghai Masters as an alternate during the qualifying rounds and fought his way past Nishesh Basavareddy and Liam Draxl to earn his spot in the main draw.
From that point, the Monégasque player embarked on an extraordinary journey, defeating Laslo Djere, Alexander Bublik, Tomáš Macháč, and Tallon Griekspoor before shocking Holger Rune and four-time champion Novak Djokovic to reach the final. He concluded his remarkable campaign with a decisive victory over his cousin, France’s Arthur Rinderknech, to claim the Shanghai Masters trophy.
Recently, former American player John Isner made comparisons between the significant achievements of both players, but his decision to rank Vacherot’s above Raducanu’s sparked controversy among fans.
“I believe it is indeed more impressive, yes. [For Raducanu] it’s a larger narrative because it’s the US Open, but I consider this to be more improbable than what she accomplished. I am inclined to give it to Vacherot in this case. It’s simply unprecedented,” he remarked on a recent episode of the Nothing Major Podcast.
This recency bias is absurd, lol. Emma won the US Open as a QUALIFIER without losing a single set. While Vacherot’s performance was commendable, it does not compare to Emma’s achievement. Thank you,” a fan remarked.
A fan defended Raducanu, stating that although Vacherot’s journey was impressive, it pales in comparison to her extraordinary 2021 US Open victory, accomplished without a full-time coach or prior experience.
“Lol, stop the exaggeration. Although Vacherot’s run was remarkable, it is nowhere near Emma’s. Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open journey will always be extraordinary. An 18-year-old qualifier who navigated 10 matches without dropping a single set. No full-time coach. No tour-level experience,” they commented.
“That is just an absurdly biased statement, lol. Tell me you underestimate women and believe men’s tennis is superior without actually saying it,” another remarked.
Another fan questioned the necessity of such comparisons, implying that Isner was presented with an unfair question.
“I mean, first of all, obviously not. But why is someone posing this obviously ‘set up to fail’ question? Why is there a need for a comparison?” they inquired.
“I do not respect any opinion from ‘John Isner,'” a fan stated.
While Vacherot’s victory at the Shanghai Masters represented a significant achievement during his Asian Swing, Raducanu struggled to find her form. Concerns about her performance were heightened, and the oppressive heat and humidity in China only exacerbated her difficulties. She achieved a second-round finish at the Korea Open and exited in the third round at the China Open.
Her physical challenges were apparent in Wuhan, where she had to retire after her vitals were checked mid-match due to the extreme heat. A similar situation occurred in Ningbo, where the Brit again required medical assistance and treatment for her lower back. Despite winning the opening set, she was unable to regain her rhythm and ultimately lost to Zhu Lin in the first round.
