Emma Raducanu is bizarrely accused of dishonest by Amanda Anisimova followers after controversial second in Australian Open conflict

  • Raducanu is through to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time
  • She battled through injury to beat her friend Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5
  • However, some fans were left frustrated after she took a medical timeout

Emma Raducanu has been accused of cheating by rival fans after a controversial moment during her win over Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old battled through injury to earn a 6-3, 7-5 victory and book her place in the third round of the Australian Open for the very first time. 

During the match, Raducanu required treatment on what looked like a lower back issue and had to take a brief pause for the medical break. 

However, afterwards, some fans were left frustrated by the timing of the break, with a handful suggesting that it was a tactical play by the British star.

Raducanu took the break after Anisimova had rushed into a 3-0 lead. After receiving the treatment, the 22-year-old went on to win the set 6-3.

Afterwards, fans on social media were quick to let their feelings be known about Raducanu’s supposed tactics. 

Emma Raducanu has been accused of cheating by rival fans after beating Amanda Anisimova

Raducanu was forced to take a medical timeout during the first set in the Australian Open tie

Anisimova had been leading the first set 3-0 before Raducanu staged an impressive comeback

One fan wrote, ‘The gamesmanship was epic. Completely disrupted Anisimova’s momentum with the signature fake MTO’.

‘She’s a cheater!! Running around winning 3 games after a MTO on a hip? Please!!! Faker,’ another said. 

One user also said: ‘Honestly that was disgusting to watch. Amanda had all the momentum and then Emma fakes being ‘hurt’ down 0-3 in the set. Emma has ZERO class.’ 

‘This is flat out cheating by the way,’ another bluntly said. 

Raducanu’s back spasmed in pre-season when she bent to lace her shoes and that knocked her out of two weeks’ training and the Auckland Open.

Even here in Melbourne she was struggling to serve at full tilt in practice and in her first round victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova she hit 15 double faults.

So there was clearly still some residual discomfort but she plotted her way superbly through the first set, although it was noticeable that she was speaking more to fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura than coach Nick Cavaday.

In the first game of the second set she hit three double faults and the wincing became a little more pronounced.

Fans took to social media to voice their frustrations and suggest Raducanu ‘faked’ the injury

At 3-0 down the physio arrived and worked both hips, apparently to try to loosen the lower back.

‘This is a slam that I love playing at so to make it past the second round means a lot to me,’ said Raducanu.

‘It’s incredibly difficult whenever you play a friend, it adds another dimension to the match and not necessarily a pleasant one. I think I did a good job. I knew I had to not go away in the second set.

‘It was tricky today, it was a little bit windy, there was sun on one side. Both in patches had some moments with our serve. The way I managed to regroup at the end of the first, I was pretty proud of that.’

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