The tennis world was thrown into chaos today after Emma Raducanu’s mother, Renee Zhai, exploded in anger during a shocking press conference in London.
Visibly furious, Renee shouted at reporters accusing her family of betraying Britain. “They said I sold my daughter to Beijing — that’s a lie from hell!” she screamed.
The accusation reportedly began online, spreading across social media after Emma’s recent appearance at a charity event in Shanghai earlier this month.
Critics accused Raducanu’s family of having “secret political ties” due to her Chinese heritage, sparking an intense wave of racist comments and conspiracy theories.
Renee, unable to control her emotions, slammed the podium and declared, “We are British. We love this country. Stop using my daughter’s bloodline to divide people.”
Moments later, Emma, sitting next to her mother, broke down in tears and whispered, “They don’t know what we’ve been through.” The press room fell completely silent.
She then revealed that her family had received multiple anonymous death threats through emails traced back to hackers based in China. The messages demanded she quit Wimbledon.
Security officials reportedly confirmed an investigation was underway after the threats were forwarded to the Metropolitan Police’s cybercrime division earlier this week.
Emma’s team released a brief statement afterward, saying: “This is not about politics. Emma plays for love of the game and her fans worldwide.”
Within minutes, tennis stars including Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff voiced support for Raducanu online, condemning the racist abuse and calling for stricter online protection.
Former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray also posted: “No player or family deserves this. The sport needs to stand united against hate and lies.”
British tabloids have described the press conference as “one of the most emotional moments in recent tennis history,” with footage going viral worldwide.
Insiders at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) confirmed that emergency security protocols were activated to ensure Raducanu’s safety ahead of the upcoming season.
Chinese tennis icon Li Na also spoke up, saying: “Emma is part of both worlds — that should be a strength, not a weapon used against her.”
Despite the chaos, Emma managed a brief smile before leaving the room, thanking her supporters: “All I want is peace and tennis — nothing more.”
Analysts now say the incident may mark a crucial turning point in how international athletes of mixed heritage are treated in modern sports media.
What began as a scandal born from hate may end up uniting fans across borders, reminding the world that tennis, at its heart, is still about humanity and resilience.
