© Getty Images Sport – Matthew Stockman
John McEnroe was seemingly surprised by Coco Gauff’s doubters claim as he suggests that anyone who really knows tennis could never question the talent and potential of the 19-year-old American. Moments after Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final to become a Grand Slam champion, she had a message for those who were apparently saying she was “just hype” and nothing more.
Reflecting on Gauff’s claim, McEnroe suggested there was no way those comments could have been made by someone who really knows tennis. “I’m questioning whether people said it, or if it was a couple of people in a basement somewhere.
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,” McEnroe told Eurosport.
McEnroe wonders who was writing off Gauff
Gauff was exceptional throughout the entire North American hard court as the American won three titles and went 18-1.
After winning Washington and Cincinnati, Gauff capped off her summer on hard courts with a US Open win. Moments after becoming a Slam champion, Gauff had something she wanted to tell. “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. I just felt like people were, like, ‘oh, she’s hit her peak and she’s done. It was all hype.’ I see the comments. People don’t think I see it, but I see it.
I’m very aware of tennis Twitter. I know y’all’s usernames, so I know who’s talking trash,” Gauff said after her US Open win.
