As if things weren’t bad for her already, Emma Raducanu has found herself embroiled in an unwanted controversy to make matters worse. The British sensation is having a torrid time on and off the court. While her performances haven’t been as per the standards she set with the US Open title a few years back, Raducanu is also suffering from physical issues that have kept her away from action lately. Amid this, she had an eventful time with one of her sponsors, Porsche.

The car manufacturer reportedly took away a car worth USD 163k from Raducanu. It was rumored that the decision was taken due to Raducanu’s poor performances over this season. However, those indeed were rumors, as a Porsche spokesperson, while talking to the Sun, revealed that the car was never going to be in permanent possession of Raducanu and it was an ad-hoc arrangement. “While we do on occasion loan Emma a car, this is very much on an ad hoc basis,” the spokesperson said.

Amid these reports, another car manufacturer, Dacia, extended a heartfelt gesture toward Raducanu. Taking to their official X handle, the Romanian car manufacturer posted, “Dear @EmmaRaducanu, Whether it’s your forehand, backhand, or Sandero keys-in-hand — you know a thing or two about reliability. So while some brands may (double) fault and let you down, you can always trust your Sandero. Here’s to many more miles.” They also shared a glimpse of the car presented to Raducanu.

As soon as the reports surfaced that Porsche took back the car from Raducanu, the British star took to social media to share a cryptic response. Raducanu shared a couple of pictures, which showed her beside the Porsche car. “Like I Vanished and Reappeared,” she wrote, adding further suspense to this matter. It, however, remains unclear whether the car that was reportedly taken away is back in Raducanu’s possession.

Earlier, one of Raducanu’s associates confirmed the news to the Sun, saying, “Emma no longer has a Porsche. They took it back. It used to have pride of place at her home.” While the reports of potential troubles in the partnership between Raducanu and Porsche were gaining steam, the German car maker released a statement. In a positive update, Porsche confirmed that there is no change in their partnership with Raducanu.

Emma Raducanu continues to remain the global ambassador for Porsche

Raducanu joined Porsche after her 2021 US Open win as a global ambassador. It was a dream come true moment for her as she used to watch her childhood coach arrive for practice in Porsche and she wanted one of her own. Subsequently, after entering into a partnership with Porsche, Raducanu was seen driving to her practice sessions in a 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet. While it was reported that the car was taken back, a spokesperson for Porsche cleared things out.

The spokesperson said, “Emma Raducanu is a global brand ambassador for Porsche and there have not been any changes within our successful partnership since it started in 2022. We are very happy with our partnership. We do on occasion loan Emma a car, but this is very much on an ad hoc, short-term basis.”

While these rumors are put to rest now, Raducanu’s fans will be keen to see her back on court. She last featured at the Korea Open, where she withdrew midway during her quarterfinal match. It’ll be interesting to see if a rejuvenated Raducanu can make a strong comeback later this year.