Emma Raducanu Stirs Mixed Reactions Over Crying Baby Incident at Cincinnati Open

Tennis player Emma Raducanu sparked debate among fans after she took issue with a crying baby during her match at the Cincinnati Open.

Ranked No. 39, Raducanu faced off against the top-ranked Alina Sabalenka in a challenging match on Monday. At a pivotal moment in the third set, with the score close, Raducanu paused to speak with the referee.

“I can make the phone call, but we have to keep going for now,” the judge told her.

Clearly bothered by the sound of a baby crying in the crowd, Raducanu gestured towards the source of the noise, stating, “It was like ten minutes.”

The judge responded bluntly, asking, “It’s a child. Do you want the child to be sent out of the stadium?” To Raducanu’s surprise, a section of the audience responded enthusiastically with a “Yes” when she nodded in agreement.

The judge indicated that she was prepared to address the situation.

After resuming play, the crowd cheered as Raducanu returned to her position. Though Sabalenka lost the next point, she ultimately won the match. Raducanu later lost to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals.

Sports commentator Simon Jordan backed Raducanu, expressing disapproval of allowing babies in such settings. He remarked, “If they have babies in the auditorium, I don’t think it’s particularly responsible parenting. It doesn’t create the kind of atmosphere a child should be in.” He noted that distractions like this can significantly affect athletes’ performances, especially in concentration-demanding sports.

Opinions among fans were divided. Some felt that silence is essential for tennis matches, while others drew parallels to other sports where noise from the crowd is standard. A commenter noted, “In sports like soccer, cricket, and basketball, crowds can be much louder.” Another quipped, “It’s not like she’s playing chess.”

Interestingly, despite the disruption caused by the baby, Raducanu received a warning from the referee during the match for approaching her coach and seeking instructions. The official pointed out that the coach needed to remain seated, while Raducanu mentioned it was hard to hear due to the noise in the arena.

“Then he needs to speak eloquently,” the judge advised.