Tennis star stops match to make absurd demand about a baby in the crowd



Tennis star Emma Raducanu has fans split on whether she was justified in asking match officials to take action against a baby during the Cincinnati Open.

World No. 39 Raducanu was in tough competition on Monday when she drew No. 1 player Aryna Sabalenka in the Round of 32. In a very close match, Raducanu was behind by just one game in the third set, but before serving, the British player paused and stepped away from the court to make a complaint to the umpire.

'I can call in, but we have to continue for the moment.'

As a baby is heard crying in the distance, Raducanu looked visibly bothered before motioning to the sidelines and saying, "It's been like 10 minutes," referring to the baby in the stands.

The umpire responded to the 22-year-old, bluntly saying, "It's a child. Do you want me to send the child out of the stadium?"

Shockingly, a group of fans shouted "yes" as Raducanu gestured in agreement with the crowd.

The umpire quickly revealed she would take action.

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"I can call in, but we have to continue for the moment," the umpire explained.

The crowd applauded as Raducanu returned to position to serve. Although Sabalenka botched the next point, the top women's player went on to win the match. She eventually fell to No. 12-ranked American Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals.

Talksport pundit Simon Jordan agreed with Raducanu and took issue with the idea of not banning children from sporting events.

"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!" Jordan claimed, per the Mirror. "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."

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Aryna Sabalenka reacts to defeating Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in the third round on Day 5 of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 11, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

While many fans agreed that players need silence, others compared the scenario to other sports — such as boxing or darts — where the players do not have a choice.

"Meanwhile players in football, cricket, basketball etc.. playing with 200 freaking decibels of loud noises from tens of thousands in crowd," a fan said in reaction to the video on X.

"Not like she's playing chess," another viewer wrote.

Multiple viewers also joked about the idea that while Raducanu was bothered by the baby's cries, she did not seem to take issue with Sabalenka's loud grunts when she hits the ball.

Interestingly, despite having issues with the chatty infant, Raducanu also received a lecture from the umpire in the same match for approaching her coach to get direction.

The umpire made it clear that the coach had to remain in his seat and that she could not approach him, but Raducanu said it was too hard to hear because of the arena's music.

"Then he needs to speak louder," the umpire explained.

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CPS allegedly investigates parents after 6-year-old boy completes marathon with family



Child Protective Services reportedly investigated two Kentucky parents after their 6-year-old son ran with them in a marathon.

What are the details?

The Crawford family — consisting of parents Kami and Ben and their six children — competed as a family in the Flying Pig Marathon, an annual race that takes place in Cincinnati on the first Sunday of May. The marathon is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon.

The family completed the 26.2-mile marathon in 8 hours and 35 minutes.

But now they're being accused of "child abuse," according to WCPO-TV, because their youngest child — 6-year-old Rainier — competed in the event. Last Friday, CPS even visited the family home to interview the family.

The Crawfords explained in an Instagram post that CPS "arrived at our home unannounced and interviewed our children, parents & grandmother."

"This is a scary process because usually children are interrogated away from parents, against their will, and their answers determine the agency's legal right to take away the kids," the post added. "CPS requires SPECIFIC actions be reported like times, locations and specific abuses. Since these do not exist people had to make them up."

The specific complaint claimed the parents dragged their young child for more than 13 miles until they reached the finish line, "pulling him against his will." But eyewitnesses who were present during the marathon, and their own video footage, contradicts the allegations, the parents explained, adding that their son's only complaint was that he wanted to finish the race in less time.

The Crawfords said two social service agents who spoke with their family determined "that we have nothing to worry about."

In an interview with "Good Morning America," the parents defended their decision to let their young son run the marathon. They explained each of their children chose independently to compete, and none of their children were forced to do anything they did not want to do.

What do doctors say?

Pediatrician Dr. Christopher Bolling told WCPO that young children should avoid some exercise methods typically reserved for teenagers and adults, such as resistance training, because their bodies are rapidly growing. But he said running is typically OK, although a full marathon is "unusual."

Meanwhile, pediatrician Dr. Jay Lovenheim told NBC's "TODAY Parents" that running a marathon is "fine" for young children.

"If they’ve been training and taking rest days and they’re being monitored and there’s no signs of heat exhaustion — I really don’t see a whole lot of risk," Lovenheim said. "I’d be a little more concerned if they were running regular marathons. One marathon is fine.

Parents of 6-year-old who ran Flying Pig Marathon respond to backlash www.youtube.com