Piers Morgan repeats ‘choke’ jibe to Emma Raducanu moments before US Open final starts
PIERS MORGAN repeated his 'choke' jibe to Emma Raducanu just moments before the British sensation began her US Open final against Leylah Annie Fernandez.
The 56-year-old criticised Raducanu, 18, when she pulled out of Wimbledon with breathing difficulties in July, and he doubled down on Saturday night.
Morgan tweeted: "Good luck @EmmaRaducanu.
"The astoundingly impressive & inspiring way you’ve bounced back from that Wimbledon choke tells me you have what it takes to be a champion.
"Now go prove it."
People were quick to slam the former Good Morning Britain presenter in the comments and he lashed out again in response.
He added: "Stop it, snowflakes. The last thing Emma needs right now is weak-worshipping Twitter telling her 'you're still a winner even if you lose!'
"She's a winner if she wins - and she knows that which is why I think she'll win."
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Morgan later tweeted: "This is great tennis. Wow."
And in reply to one of the hundreds of people who slammed his original tweet, he also wrote: "I said she needed to toughen up after she quit. She toughened up.
";The words you’re seeking are ‘Thanks Piers’."
Raducanu pulled off the seemingly impossible and became the first qualifier ever to win the tournament.
She also done it without dropping a set and produced one of the greatest sporting achievements ever.
And after her win, Morgan posted again. He wrote: "From Wimbledon choker to US Open champion in 3 months.
"Never seen a more brilliant illustration of mental strength & resilience than @EmmaRaducanu's win.
"That's what elite sport is all about - facing up to loss/adversity & going again with no whining & steely determination."
He also said: "This is one of the greatest achievements in British sporting history.
"Congrats, Emma - you champion."
Morgan also reacted to other critics labelling one a 'virtue-signalling halfwit'.
And in another rant, he wrote: "I love how weak woke whiny Twitter thinks this makes me look bad.
"Emma Raducanu admitted she couldn’t handle the pressure at Wimbledon, resolved to be tougher next time, & just won the US Open.
"McEnroe was right and so was I."
Fortunately for Raducanu there were hundreds of famous faces from across the country who had nothing but positive things to say about her stunning achievement.
Prime minister Boris Johnson led the tributes and Stephen Fry, Gary Lineker and Marcus Rashford were some of the other stars to chime in.
'PLAYING THE VICTIM'
Raducanu's Wimbledon exit against Alja Tomljanovic drew criticism from former SW19 winner John McEnroe at the time.
The American pundit said the occasion 'got a bit too much' for Raducanu, who was taken off court for medical treatment in the second set and never returned.
McEnroe said: "I feel bad for Emma, I mean obviously it got - it appears it got a bit too much, as is understandable, particularly what we've been talking about for the last six weeks."
And his views were echoed by Morgan who said: "McEnroe told the truth.
"Ms Raducuna’s a talented player but couldn’t handle the pressure & quit when she was losing badly. Not ‘brave’, just a shame.
"If I were her, I’d tell my fans to stop abusing McEnroe, & seek his advice on how to toughen up & become a champion like he was.
"Mental strength and resilience are not dirty words.
"They’re good things that need to be taught, nurtured, encouraged & celebrated from school onwards.
"This would be immeasurably easier if so many high profile people stopped playing the victim."
Morgan was also slammed by fans earlier this week for hailing Raducanu a 'superstar'.
Raducanu has enjoyed a remarkable summer, reaching the second week at Wimbledon and winning NINE matches to reach the US Open final.
She will become the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to win a Grand Slam Singles title with victory against , 19.
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Raducanu will also bag £1.8MILLION and become the tenth youngest winner in Grand Slam history if she beats her Canadian opponent.
Raducanu has also praised her parents for boosting her confidence and giving her the desire to become a sporting icon.
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