Fans have more affinity with talent on court than the glitzy world of sponsorship, says Phil Murray, although Paul Temporal says a strong personal brand has its uses
Three cheers for Adrian Chiles’s eloquent plea (Must Emma Raducanu become a brand? Let’s just enjoy her genius, 16 September) for Emma Raducanu to be allowed to develop her profile as an outstanding tennis talent, unencumbered by obligations to her sponsors and by the demands of the leech-like hangers-on from the marketing and media sectors, all of whom are out to make a fast buck on the back of her efforts on court.
As a sports enthusiast of many years’ standing, there is nothing more depressing than an outstanding sporting performance being immediately followed by the usual interview, and the subsequent scramble on the part of the athlete to ensure the relevant watch is readily visible/the sponsored golf cap is front and centre/the ski manufacturer’s logo is prominent.