Tennis Fans Slam John Isner Over Emma Raducanu Remark After Valentin Vacherot’s Shock Shanghai Masters Win
Tennis fans have taken aim at former world No. 8 John Isner after he compared Valentin Vacherot’s fairytale Shanghai Masters triumph to Emma Raducanu’s historic 2021 US Open victory — suggesting the Frenchman’s feat was “more impressive.”
The 26-year-old Monegasque player stunned the tennis world after rising from No. 204 in the rankings to claim the Shanghai Masters title. Vacherot’s incredible run included a semi-final win over Novak Djokovic before defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final — a dream week that marked one of the most unexpected ATP victories in years.
The upset quickly drew comparisons to Raducanu’s remarkable 2021 US Open campaign, where the then-18-year-old qualifier from Britain stormed to the title without dropping a single set — an achievement previously unseen in Grand Slam history.
Isner’s Take Sparks Outrage
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast — which he co-hosts with fellow former pros Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson — Isner claimed Vacherot’s run was even more improbable than Raducanu’s, though he admitted the Briton’s win had a bigger global impact.
> “I think it is more impressive [what Vacherot did], yes,” Isner said. “But Raducanu, it’s a bigger story because it’s the US Open. I think this is more improbable than what she did.
“Obviously, it being the US Open makes it a bigger story, even though this story is really big in the tennis world. But yeah, I’m giving it to Vacherot there because it’s unheard of.”
The remarks didn’t sit well with tennis fans — many of whom felt Isner was diminishing Raducanu’s unprecedented Grand Slam success.
Fans Fire Back
Social media users were quick to fire back at the American’s comments:
One fan wrote, “I think there’s serious recency bias involved here. A qualifier winning a Masters is not unheard of. A qualifier winning a Slam is. Emma was 18, playing only her second Grand Slam event, and hadn’t even won a match on the WTA Tour. She won 10 matches and Vacherot nine.”
Another commented, “Emma was 18 and had just finished school. She was a rookie and a qualifier who won without losing a set — a Slam! Bigger than a 28-year-old qualifier winning a Masters, irrespective of who they faced.”
A third fan bluntly added, “What a horrible take. Firstly, I’m not interested in what John Isner thinks about anything.”
Others took a more balanced view, acknowledging both players’ extraordinary achievements. “What Raducanu and Vacherot achieved separately are both amazing. Massive congrats to both of them,” one post read.
Remembering Raducanu’s Legacy
Raducanu’s 2021 US Open run remains one of the most astonishing breakthroughs in tennis history. At just 18 years old, she became the first qualifier ever — male or female — to win a Grand Slam, completing her fairytale journey without dropping a set.
While injuries and inconsistency have prevented her from repeating such success since, her triumph continues to inspire young athletes worldwide and stands as a unique chapter in modern tennis.
Vacherot’s Shanghai victory, on the other hand, is being hailed as one of the greatest Masters-level upsets — especially after taking down Djokovic. Yet, for most fans, Raducanu’s historic Slam win remains in a league of its own.