GB News host Eamonn Holmes has called Emma Raducanu "useless" after her impressive Australian Open victory yesterday.
The broadcaster made the remarks following Raducanu's hard-fought win against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in Melbourne.
Eamonn Holmes said: "In fairness to Emma Raducanu, who I think looks fantastic, if you're a sponsor, you'd love to have her associated with you but she is useless.
"That was a good win yesterday. I'll give her that."
Eamonn Holmes blasted the young athlete
GB News
He added: "She's not going to win anything. She's not going to win any titles."
Co-host Ellie Costello said: "She is only 21 you need to give her a chance."
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The comments came as the 22-year-old British player secured her place in the second round with a determined straight-sets victory.
Raducanu triumphed over Alexandrova in a tense 7-6, 7-6 victory that showcased both brilliance and inconsistency.
The British number two demonstrated remarkable resilience in the match, which featured an extraordinary 12 breaks of serve.
Her performance in the tiebreaks was particularly impressive, with Raducanu extending her winning streak to eight consecutive tiebreaks since last April.
Emma Raducanu won her match at the Australia Open Day
GettyIn the second set tiebreak, she raced to a commanding 6-0 lead, displaying her prowess in crucial moments.
"I think that is a part of my game that is one of my strengths," Raducanu said. "When it gets to those clutch moments, I mean I relish playing in that."
The victory marks only her fourth Grand Slam match win against a seeded opponent.
The match was marked by dramatic serving inconsistencies from Raducanu, who delivered 15 double faults alongside nine aces.
The victory marks only her fourth Grand Slam match win against a seeded opponent.
PAThe British player appeared to debut a new service action, winning only one of her first 15 points on her second serve.
In the first set, Raducanu won just 18 per cent of her second-serve points, with her opponent Alexandrova capitalising on the weakness.
The serving issues appeared to stem from a grip change, with Raducanu's racket face notably more open to allow for more spin.
"I'm not sure what I changed in my serve today," Raducanu admitted afterwards. "I think it had a mind of its own!"
