Serbian tennis player Dejana Radanovic ignited controversy with her remarks about India on Monday, February 5th
She stood by her statements on Tuesday, despite facing backlash online.
Radanovic unleashed criticism against India following her loss to local favorite Vaidehi Chaudhari in the qualifying round of the 2024 L&T Mumbai Open. Upon returning to Serbia, she took to Instagram to condemn the living conditions in the country, implying they lacked civilization.
“I didn’t like India,” tennis player Dejana Radanovic lashes out at poor living conditions she experienced during the Mumbai Open 2024 on Instagram
Many tennis enthusiasts deemed the 27-year-old’s comments as racist, leading to widespread condemnation. However, Radanovic refuted accusations of racism on Tuesday, insisting that she was merely expressing dissatisfaction with her personal experience in India.
She defended herself by stating she has friends from various nationalities and backgrounds. Addressing the criticism, Radanovic argued on her Instagram stories that disliking certain aspects of a country doesn’t equate to racism.
She wrote “If you come to my country, Serbia, and you don’t like all those same things, that means you are a racist??? I have friends of all nationalities and colors so don’t go there ‘cause it’s an absolute NONSENSE!”
Fans Debating Online
Update:
Dejana Radanovic addresses the difficulties she faced during her stay in India, claims of her being racist.Tbh she just didn’t do her research I guess she stayed at cheap hotels. It’s fvcking Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru. U literally hv world class food, hotels available 😭 https://t.co/4KkSrUkid9 pic.twitter.com/g8EjsTk7rT
— High Blood Pressure (@thetwinkwolff) February 5, 2024
Her comments drew ire from the tennis community on Reddit, with some suggesting she should have remained silent to avoid prolonging the controversy.
I think world no. 253 Dejana Radanovic was made to play in India on gunpoint. Soo much hate. pic.twitter.com/r0zt36tZaO
— Bhosale भोसले (@bhosale1947) February 4, 2024
Others advised her to channel her energy into improving her tennis ranking rather than engaging in online disputes with fans. Radanovic had visited India in January to participate in ITF Futures events but was unimpressed by the hygiene standards.
In her earlier Instagram stories, she complained about tap water quality, local fruits causing illness, and poor sanitation in her hotel accommodations. More recently, she expressed dissatisfaction with traffic congestion and other aspects of Indian life.
Expressing her dissatisfaction, she wrote “I have a strong affection for fruit, and enduring three weeks without it felt like torture. Although one can obviously consume fruit, my first attempt several years ago resulted in food poisoning and a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius for several days. So, this time around, I opted to abstain.”
“India didn’t appeal to me,” she later remarked. “I found the cuisine, traffic, and hygiene standards disagreeable (encountering worms in the food, encountering yellowed pillows and soiled bed linens in the hotel, struggling to navigate roundabouts, etc.).”
Despite her negative experiences, Radanovic’s criticism of India has stirred debate and prompted reflection on cultural perceptions and attitudes.
About Dejana Radanovic
For unversed, Dejana Radanović, a Serbian tennis player born on May 14, 1996, has made her mark in the sport with a notable career profile:
Country (sports): Serbia
Residence: Novi Sad, Serbia
Birthplace: Zrenjanin, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coaches: Boris Čonkić (2012–2018), Petar Čonkić (2017–)
Career Record: 297–189 (61.1%)
Career Titles: 12 ITF
Highest Singles Ranking: No. 187 (2 July 2018)
Current Singles Ranking: No. 275 (18 September 2023)