The rivalry between Piers Morgan and Emma Raducanu has been reignited after the tennis star unveiled her football loyalties.
Raducanu is currently in Germany for the 2022 Stuttgart Open—which got underway on Monday—and was seen sporting a Tottenham shirt in training. Few were surprised to see outspoken Arsenal fan Morgan wade into the conversation and offer his take on the incident.
The journalist—who quit his job as Good Morning Britain host in 2021—took to Twitter to express his disappointment in Raducanu's choice of attire (and fandom). Morgan, who boasts just shy of eight million followers on the platform, wrote: "Oh @EmmaRaducanu - how could you?"
The 57-year-old was previously critical of the teenager after she withdrew from last year's Wimbledon Championship. Raducanu made it to the tournament's last 16 before retiring from her match against Ajla Tomljanovic, citing breathing difficulties.
Morgan then backed up comments made by seven-time major-winner John McEnroe, who suggested the situation had "got a little bit too much" for the youngster. The British broadcaster was more scathing in his criticism, however.
"Ms Raducana’s (sic) a talented player but couldn’t handle the pressure and quit when she was losing badly," wrote the former News of the World editor at the time. "Not ‘brave’, just a shame. If I were her, I’d tell my fans to stop abusing McEnroe, and seek his advice on how to toughen up & become a champion like he was.”
Meanwhike, Raducanu suffered a 6-1, 6-1 hammering against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the Billie Jean King Cup. Great Britain then saw their hopes of advancing end after she and team-mate Harriet Dart succumbed 6-1, 7-5 in their doubles decider.
It marked a bittersweet debut on clay for Raducanu, who recently said she had "no toenails left" after a rigorous training period and is struggling with blisters. She'll hope to make a more positive return as she prepares to make another clay debut in Stuttgart, where a new champion will be crowned following titleholder Ashleigh Barty's retirement.
Antonio Conte 's Spurs are currently fourth in the Premier League and sit three points ahead of Arsenal. albeit having played one game more. Raducanu's display of loyalty comes at a time when her north London club could use all the support they can get, having fallen 1-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday, while the Gunners fell 1-0 at Southampton.
