Stephen Colbert savaged Emma Raducanu live on air, blasting her in front of the entire audience and sending the studio into chaos… Then, out of nowhere, he unleashed a joke that sent shockwaves across the world. No one ever imagined Stephen Colbert would dare pull this stunt live on television. But Emma Raducanu wasn’t having it. She spat back with just eight words — and a threat that left Colbert shaken. She roared that this arrogant American bastard had crossed the line: “I forbid them to insult Britian. I’ll risk everything to take back justice…”

The dramatic defeat of Emma Raducanu: From Seoul tennis court to the TV war with Stephen Colbert

Just a few hours after witnessing one of the most bitter failures of his career at the Korea Open, the Tennis Star Branda Raducanu suddenly became the focus of a fierce confrontation on American television. The defeat of 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-1 against the former Wimbledon Barbora Krejcikova championship made Raducanu miss three matches, but it was only a floating part of the submerged iceberg. Shortly thereafter, in a live interview on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert *, Raducanu “countered” the host Stephen Colbert with strong words, turning that moment into a symbol of British pride.

Fate match at Korea Open: Three points of missing

Yesterday, September 18, 2025, Raducanu entered the field in Seoul in the hope of deeper into the quarterfinals, where she could confront the world’s No. 2 player Iga Swiatek. As his No. 1 seed, Raducanu started impressive by winning the first set of 6-4, even leading 4-1 at the second set and the serve at the 5-3 point. She had three chances to finish the match – a moment that seemed to be predetermined for the victory.

But Krejcikova, with the experience of the Grand Slam champion, turned the spectacular flag. The Czech player broke the game in Tie-Break Set Hai (won 12-10 after saving two match points), then crushed Raducanu at the set set with a score of 6-1 within two hours 52 minutes. “I had everything in my hand, but sometimes tennis was like that – a small mistake that could change everything,” Raducanu shared after the match, his voice full of regret. This is her third consecutive defeat against Top 10 players in 2025, raising concerns about the performance of the US Open 2021 champion.

This defeat not only ended the journey at Korea Open but also made Raducanu regret the decision to ignore Billie Jean King Cup to prioritize personal tournament. “It was a difficult choice, but I need to focus on myself,” she said. Now, Raducanu will target WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing from September 24, where she hopes to regain her form under the guidance of the new coach Francis Roi – former assistant of Rafael Nadal.

from tennis to television: The collision with Stephen Colbert

But the story has not stopped at the field. Just a few hours after the defeat, Raducanu – still tired and moved – Join a direct interview via satellite on * The late Show with Stephen Colbert * (CBS), the broadcast at 11:35 PM et September 18. Colbert, famous for its sharp sarcasm, has started with a series of “harsh” jokes about Raducanu’s failure. “Emma, I lost because I tried to ‘save’ the match point points for the afternoon tea? – Colbert laughed in front of the audience, pushing the studio atmosphere in chaos with the applause and booing.

Those words quickly escalated. Colbert continued to “swirl” into Raducanu’s brother – born in Toronto but grew up in London – with a shocking joke: “Emma, I’m a ‘My beauty’ or something, but today I played as if I was trying to prove that Brexit was the biggest mistake in history!” This statement, even though it was just a funny joke in Colbert style, was so touched by Raducanu’s national pride, especially when she was at the peak of emotion after the loss.

The studio suddenly was silent when Raducanu, with a blushing face through the satellite screen, interrupted: “I forbid you to offend England. I will risk everything to reclaim justice …” Only eight words from English mixed with his voice resolute, but they are like a slow bomb. Colbert, often confident with the notorious “Roast”, first looks awkward – he stammered apologizing and transferred the topic to the music part of the program. The audience on the spot burst, and the clip quickly spread on social networks, attracting more than 5 million views in just a few hours.

The counterattack of Raducanu: The symbol of his pride

Raducanu’s reaction is not only a personal moment but also reflects her mental strength after the failure on the field. “I love England, and no one is allowed to turn it into a joke, especially after a day like today,” she then shared with reporters in Seoul. The threat of “risking everything” – despite being dramatic – has turned her into a hero on British social networks, with the hashtag #Standwithemma trending top 1 on X (Twitter). Even the whip coach praised: “It is a true warrior spirit, not only on the field but also in real life.”

Colbert, in the end of the program, posted a funny apology on Instagram: “Emma, this ‘arrogant’ guy apologizes. Next time, I will invite you tea and Scones instead of joking about tennis!” This incident reminiscent of other famous media clashes, like when Serena Williams “exploded” with the referee, but this time, Raducanu turned it into a declaration of identity.

The future of Raducanu: From failure to revival?

Yesterday’s defeat may be a stain, but the confrontation with Colbert turned Raducanu into a new symbol of the national resilience. With a dense schedule ahead, she will need to turn this pain into a motivation. Can Raducanu “reclaim justice” on the tennis court, like she did on television? The answer may be in Beijing, where her 2025 journey continued.