Simon Jordan urges new rules after Emma Raducanu wanted kid kicked out

Simon Jordan has called for tennis to enforce changes after Emma Raducanu was distracted by a baby

Simon Jordan has called for audience age limits in tennis following Emma Raducanu's request to have a crying child removed at the Cincinnati Open. The world No. 33 was embroiled in controversy during her third-round battle against Aryna Sabalenka after being distracted by an infant's cries at a crucial moment. Raducanu was serving in the eighth game of an epic showdown at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre when the contentious incident erupted. The 22-year-old motioned towards the crowd while appealing to the umpire, who responded sharply: "It's a child. Do you want me to send the child out of the stadium?" Three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka showed grace in victory after claiming a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) triumph, securing a fourth-round clash with Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

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However, talkSPORT commentator Jordan was left seething after witnessing the exchange and unleashed a furious outburst. The former Crystal Palace chairman protested his side of the argument with passion, responding to presenter Jim White's suggestion that sporting events cannot prohibit children. "Well, you can make it appropriate," he said. "If they've got a baby inside an auditorium: A, I don't think it's particularly responsible parenting. And B, it's not reflective of the environment a child should probably be in! "And C, you've then got the distraction that tennis player, or anyone playing an individual sport that requires a degree of concentration, is going to be affected by. So it's not me being some horrid, Wackford Squeers from some Charles Dickens book.

Jordan has called for tennis organisers to bring in age restrictions at matches

"It's me looking at it going, 'It's ridiculous. I wouldn't bring a young child. Theatres don't allow people to bring young children into auditoriums when actors are in the middle of acting so a kid can scream out and spit his dummy across the room.'" Jordan, who is renowned for his controversial stance and forthright opinions, then reinforced his position by restating his belief that it's inappropriate for babies to attend such sporting occasions. Nevertheless, White adopted a considerably more tolerant perspective on the issue and dismissed Jordan's objections with laughter before advocating for a gentler approach. To be the first to receive the latest tennis news, join our WhatsApp community or tennis newsletter "You can take a baby on a plane," White countered, implying it would be absurd to impose different regulations across various public venues. Yet the Scot could only laugh when Jordan retorted: "I don't suppose the pilot would want the baby in the cockpit, would he?" White persisted in arguing it would be nonsensical to propose banning infants from major sporting competitions. However, Jordan refused to budge in his stance as he brought up comparable examples that currently would not allow infant attendees in most cases.

❌ Simon: "It's not appropriate!"

✈️ Jim: "You can take a baby on a plane?"

??????‍♂️ Simon: "The pilot wouldn't want the baby in the cockpit, would they!?"@SJOpinion10 and @JimWhite arguing about if babies should be allowed in sporting events was hilarious! ?????? pic.twitter.com/4BzUd2bDs0 — talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 13, 2025

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"I think it's ridiculous. Okay, bring [a baby] to snooker then. A screaming kid in snooker. Judd Trump leaning down to make [a shot]...'WAAAAHHHH [mimicking a baby's cry]!' That would be great, wouldn't it? Bring them to the boxing, so they can watch blood and [thunder]. Get them to bare knuckle fighting, so they can get involved with that too!" White brought up the example of young children regularly attending football matches, to which Jordan made the counterpoint that it's not the same as bringing a baby. He went on to suggest there should be some form of age cut-off for certain events, with tennis among those disciplines that require more concentration by an individual athlete. Meanwhile, Raducanu will have to dust herself off and try again after narrowly losing to Sabalenka. The Brit is now set to head to the US Open, feeling confident despite the loss, having delivered some impressive performances since Wimbledon.

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