Serbian tennis player Dejana Radanovic's negative remarks about India have caused a stir on social media.
Many fans online have accused the World No. 245 of being racist after she shared her bad experience in India, having been in the country for a couple of weeks for ITF tournaments.
In her most recent match of the ITF 125K in Mumbai, the Serb gave India's Vaidehi Chowdhury a walkover.
After the backlash, Radanovic posted a clarification and justified her remarks, which only backfired and led to more vitriol online.
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'I didn't like India - the country' - Dejana Radanovic on her experience in India
"Adios India. See you never ever ever ever ever EVER again," she wrote on her Instagram Story at an airport after spending over a fortnight in the country.
Upon arriving in Munich, Germany, she posted another story on her account, taking a direct jibe at India.
"Hello civilization. Only those who have experienced something like India for 3 weeks can understand the feeling," the 27-year-old wrote in her Story.
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
After the backlash, Radanovic posted a series of Stories on Instagram to defend herself, which only exacerbated the situation.
She said that she didn't like the country, and its "food, hygiene, and traffic", while also asserting that she wasn't being racist.
"I didn’t like India – the country. I didn’t like the food, traffic, hygiene (worms in the food, yellow pillows and dirty bed linen in the hotel, not knowing how to use roundabout etc.)
“If you come to my country, Serbia, and you don’t like all those same things, that means you are a racist??? What the hell does that have to do with racism?! I have friends of all nationalities and colours so don’t go there cause it’s an absolute NONSENSE!"
Update:
— High Blood Pressure (@thetwinkwolff) February 5, 2024
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
Dejana Radanović made racist comments about India, and then doubled down, with bizarre comments about how she was good to a tuk tuk guy and is therefore not racist. It's the tennis equivalent of "I'm not racist; I have a black friend."
— Green (@yeti87788) February 5, 2024
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