Coco Gauff Gets Props From Michelle Obama For Calling Out Referee During Heated US Open Match
Source: Robert Prange / Getty
She’s not quite John McEnroe, but Coco Gauff is making sure to advocate for herself.
The 19-year-old tennis star was caught up in a controversy amid her opening match at the US Open earlier this week against Laura Siegemund.
The German qualifier and Gauff both had heated exchanges with the umpire Marijana Veljovic after the extended amount of time each took between points.
Coco Gauff expressed her frustration to the chair umpire after she thought her opponent, Laura Siegemund, was slow to get ready for her serves several times. pic.twitter.com/WjXz4bskkt
— ESPN (@espn) August 29, 2023
Gauff pointed out that while she was following the rules, Siegemund ignored the clock’s prompts several times.
“I don’t care what she’s doing on her serve, but on my serve she has to be ready,” Gauff explained.
As Gauff pleaded her case, the crowd at Queens’ Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted in applause, admiring that she spoke up.
After a slow start, Gauff defeated Siegemund, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, to move on to the second round.
After the match, Gauff gave Siegemund her props for making it a tough battle while the German star felt it was unfair that the crowd openly rooted against her and cheered for her mistakes.
Laura Siegemund played a fantastic match against title favorite Coco Gauff last night but she got booed of the court for, imagine, at 36yo having to slowdown the pace of play between against a 19yo. Got a point penalty for that. She had things to say: pic.twitter.com/P3yoiffk3P
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 29, 2023
Part of the crowd at the stadium included former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Gauff was surprised because she was initially only expecting the former First Lady, but was happy when she applauded the young star for speaking up for herself.
Former First couple Barack and Michelle Obama are in attendance supporting Coco Gauff
#USOpen pic.twitter.com/JLd10j4Sli
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 29, 2023
“She did say it’s good to speak up for myself,” Gauff said Michelle Obama told her. “So I think she was happy that I spoke up for myself today.”
See how social media reacted to Gauff’s fuming interaction with the umpire below.
1.
Because if Coco was the one sitting, there’d be headlines about it today. https://t.co/qIcdHtcnDB
— Gabrie. (@oh_sovivacious) August 30, 2023
2.
Idk what she talmbout but that’s right baby let them know https://t.co/HraOgW9EQ7 pic.twitter.com/ZtQN0qPbK0
— Grip Bayless (@talleyberrybaby) August 29, 2023
3.
Me not knowing anything about tennis but being in defense of Coco arguing with this yt woman https://t.co/2h2QuIS67G pic.twitter.com/2XnaDahvoP
— me (@ksea43) August 29, 2023
4.
This just made me mad lol. because simply standing up is not adequate correction for this rule breaking. There needs to be a PENALTY. Like, you can’t undo the rest that she already received. If you’ve ever played any games with me you know how annoying I get over the rules
https://t.co/fTMTAgCtrL
— eeda (@Naqeeba118) August 30, 2023
5.
Dang she gotta do the ref’s job too?!? I’m happy she was able to get the win she deserved tho
https://t.co/XNgLJHcLk3 pic.twitter.com/BW3O8eS3IG
— Jazzi
(@JazziBee2) August 29, 2023
6.
I’m sorry but if I was a writer on SNL
look how the camera cuts to her sitting down https://t.co/W8s5CJWIsN
— Tina Turtle
(@tinaqueen_15) August 29, 2023
7.
dam they was really tryna let that white girl cheat lol https://t.co/7N6kbQCLrj
— Cabrón James (@chrisbitch93) August 30, 2023
8.
Black people everyday in a white world https://t.co/307dJLJnIe
— Peppa Piggas (@GoodCarmaWon) August 30, 2023
9.
SHE SAID ROSA PARKS GET YA ASS UP
https://t.co/DNCwB14rpQ
— 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 (@arxhiiie) August 30, 2023
10.
She had every right to be upset.
First homegirl took a 8 min. Bathroom break with no penalty (5min is the normal time given).
Then she proceeded to take her time after every one of Coco’s serve.
Enough was enough. https://t.co/58kxiYKL0I— Sadé (@janettjackass) August 29, 2023
11.
i watched this last night and coco had every right to say what she said…other yungn kept getting away with taking forever to serve https://t.co/jXLgmvBivZ
— . (@moochie0000) August 29, 2023
12.
Tennis might be my new favorite spots cause ain’t nothing like watching these black women create absolute hell for these lil white girls. https://t.co/t3WVu6QKcX
— Undisputed Lightweight (@youngsarcasm_) August 30, 2023
13.
All jokes aside, this is why I go so hard for black women in sport. The examples really are endless. I’m not for everybody but a lot of ppl feel me, and I’m not going to stop. So block or mute if you must. https://t.co/fJd6eAlUb0
— Lo Dreher
(@BiggggLo_) August 29, 2023
14.
“i don’t care what she’s doing on her serve, on my serve she has to be ready” oooop!
https://t.co/S6EgNS983M
— NEW ORLEANS (@cierralexis) August 29, 2023
15.
“…[at first] I didn’t say nothing. But now it’s just ridiculous. She’s gotta be ready” period. https://t.co/hGklHqC1BO
— Arielle (Ari) Chambers (@ariivory) August 29, 2023
16.
It’s the commentary listening and going, “she’s right” for me https://t.co/NFL0d5nG7E
— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) August 29, 2023
17.
“I don’t care what she’s doing on her serve but on my serve, she has to be ready” exactly pic.twitter.com/BeAq9bHLzg https://t.co/KGNNoc64yI
— HATE-retha (@the_oddglass) August 30, 2023
18.
By “thought her opponent was slow” they mean that her opponent literally ran out the service clock multiple times and wasn’t called for violations and then repeatedly walked away from the court to delay Gauff’s serve https://t.co/dENOOWgtPj
— Eric Samulski (@SamskiNYC) August 29, 2023
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