British sports personalities from Andy Murray to Marcus Rashford have rallied to the defence of teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu, after suggestions she quit her debut Wimbledon, because she could not handle the pressure.
The previously little-known 18-year-old, ranked 338 in the world, was the last of 14 British players standing in Wimbledon, after three superb wins that had fans on their feet.
But she was forced to retire against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in their last-16 match with breathing difficulties.
While commentating for the BBC, former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe suggested the occasion "got a little bit too much" for Raducanu, while others took to social media, criticising her for bowing out, while losing.
The case drew comparisons with world No.2 Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open, revealing she suffered anxiety over media interviews after intense matches.
Raducanu has posted a message to fans, saying she was feeling much better, congratulating Tomljanovic and apologising for the premature end to the match.
"I was playing the best tennis of my life in front of an amazing crowd this week and I think the whole experience caught up with me," she tweets, saying she began breathing heavily and felt dizzy, after some tough rallies at the end of the first set.
"The medical team advised me not to continue and although it felt like the hardest thing in the world not to be able to finish my Wimbledon on the court, I was not well enough to carry on."
Another former champion Murrray says some of the criticism is harsh and premature, given nobody knew the specifics of her ailment.
"No question, mental toughness can be what separates the best in sport, but surely you aren't judging her mental toughness on yesterday's match," Murray adds, replying to ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who said successful athletes must simply "deal with" pressure.
Mother Judy Murray, a tennis coach, went further with a withering tweet.
"Middle-aged men should generally avoid commenting on the physical or mental well-being of teenage girls,” she says. “They will NEVER experience or fully understand that world."
England footballer Rashford empathises with Raducanu, saying the same had happened to him in an U16 game.
"I remember it to this day,” he tweets. “No explanation for it and it never happened again.
"You should be very proud of yourself. The country is proud of you."
Until a month ago, Raducanu had not contested a match on the main WTA Tour and was just finishing school exams.
After French Open organisers were criticised for their robust stance towards Osaka, Wimbledon authorities have issued a sympathetic statement, wishing Raducanu a good recovery and looking forward to future appearances in the tournament.
"She should be commended for the poise and maturity she has shown," they add.
Raducanu's last-16 opponent, Tomljanovic, also says criticism is unfair.
"I can't imagine being in her shoes at 18, playing a fourth round in your home country," she says.
"I have experienced something similar, but not to that extent. I know that it's a real thing."
In the previous round, Tomljanovic exchanged heated words with Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, accusing her of faking injury to regroup late in her defeat.
But Wimbledon semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova says pressure was always going to be a factor, once Raducanu took the wildcard, meaning she was likely to be on a big court with home fans.
"You just need to cope with that pressure," she says, after making it through to the semis. "[When I was] 18, I was still a kid. She also came from nowhere.
“Some of these girls - let's say Coco Gauff - I think she's ready for all of this.
“[It] helps if you're raised like a star."
Reuters
