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Tennis icon John McEnroe has questioned Coco Gauff’s insistence that she had plenty of detractors claiming that she would never win a Grand Slam, before defeating Aryna Sabalenka to lift the US Open on Saturday. The American teenager sent her home supporters into raptures by claiming her first Major, before sounding off on those on social media who had previously criticised her.
Gauff revealed that she was very aware of the discussion surrounding her on X (formerly known as Twitter) and in her post-match press conference admitted “I know y’alls usernames” after she had sent a pointed message to her detractors on the court.
“Honestly, thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” Gauff said during her immediate interview after defeating Sabalenka. “Like a month ago, I won a 500 title and people said I would stop at that.
“Two weeks ago, I won a 1000 title and people were saying that was the biggest I was going to get. So three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now. I tried my best to carry this with grace and I’ve been doing my best. So honestly, to those who thought [they] were putting water on my fire, you’re really adding gas to it. And now I’m really burning so bright right now.”
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But McEnroe was left perplexed by her statements, as he was unaware that there were Gauff doubters, shooting down the idea that she had such a big point to prove. Speaking on commentary for Eurosport, he said: “I heard Coco talking about the people who were writing her off and saying that she was never going to win a major. Who were those people?
“I’m not familiar with those people because I think her progress has been steady. It has been really positive, and she was in the final of the French [Open]. Okay, so there were a couple of stumbling blocks along the way, but I don’t think anyone didn’t think she was going to win a bunch of majors.”
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McEnroe has insisted that those doubters know very little about tennis, as he hailed Gauff and her progress having been playing professionally for several years despite still being a teenager – before comparing her to US Open men’s finalist Daniil Medvedev.
“I’m questioning whether people said it, or if it was a couple of people in a basement somewhere,” McEnroe added. “You know – there was a tweet somewhere and someone said it? Anyone who knows anything about tennis has seen the progress she has made, and she is 19 years old, for goodness sake. I mean, come on!
“Yes, perhaps the forehand with the big loop, but doesn’t Medvedev have a pretty big loop on his forehand? He is doing okay! So, there are players who adapt and do what they have to do to get the job done – and that’s what she did.”
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