Emma Raducanu complains about crying child in Cincinnati Open loss

Emma Raducanu urged a Cincinnati Open umpire to remove a crying child during her thrilling match against Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, briefly pausing the action over the matter.

As the British tennis star, 22, prepared to serve in the third set of the Round of 32 clash, an eventual 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (7) loss, wailing sounds emerged from the stands, prompting Raducanu to speak with the umpire.

“It’s been, like, 10 minutes,” Raducanu told the official.

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When the umpire replied, “It’s a child, do you want me to send a child out of the stadium?” spectators responded on Raducanu’s behalf with a resounding “yes,” with the 2021 U.S. Open champ raising her hand in their direction while smiling.

“I can call in, but we need to continue for the moment,” the official said as the crowd applauded.

Sabalenka, 27, who will next face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, last faced Raducanu at Wimbledon.

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The three-time Grand Slam winner defeated Raducanu, 7-6 (8), 6-4, in early July.

“I don’t think I’ve really had a loss like this in a long time, where I feel like I maybe had chances and didn’t take them,” Raducanu said at the time.

“… It’s going to take me a few days to process. But at the same time, it really motivates me.

“It could be a good thing that I’m like, ‘OK, I want to get straight back to work.’ I want to solidify my game so that in the big moments I can back myself a little bit more.”

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That “big moment” could arrive at this month’s U.S. Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year.

Raducanu topped Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the women’s singles final four years ago, 6-4, 6-3.