Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev have fronted the New York crowd with impressive showdowns at the ongoing US Open. However, that doesn’t seem to be enough for Coco Gauff‘s coach Brad Gilbert. The 63-year-old American has a different outlook while expressing his excitement on the men’s quarterfinal and semifinal draw. This, in turn, has sparked outrage amongst tennis fans.

Commentating for ESPN at Flushing Meadows, Brad Gilbert made an unsettling remark while interviewing Jack Draper and Alex de Minaur ahead of their QF duel. As if his recent troubles surrounding Gauff’s dropped form and calls for his replacement as the World No. 3’s coach weren’t enough, Gilbert decided to stay submerged in hot waters. While talking to Draper and Minaur, Gilbert said, “Nice that we’ve got four English speakers in the quarters and semis.”

Certainly an unorthodox approach to commend the tennis stars on reaching the quarterfinal round of a Grand Slam stage. While Gilbert might not have meant it negatively, fans feel that his remarks came as a sly dig towards Sinner and Medvedev, considering both players share a nationality, wherein their primary language isn’t English. Subsequently, the American coach is receiving a fair bit of flak for the outlandish comment.

Brad Gilbert’s “gross comment” attracts unfriendly scrutiny from fans ahead of Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner’s clash

Perturbed with ESPN’s “absolute shocker of a broadcast” at the US Open, one tennis fan raged, highlighting how this comment by Coco Gauff’s coach wasn’t a one-off, but instead “interviews with Karolina Muchova both pre-match and post-match were a complete disaster” as well. However, Gilbert is not the only analyst facing criticism at this year’s US Open. Notably, former American pro-Chris Evert also came under fire recently after gender stereotyping the Czech star Karolina Muchova in New York. As her remarks built momentum, the Tunisian player Ons Jabeur also condemned Evert’s comments on her social media.

One fan wished for Daniil Medvedev to roast Gilbert if the Russian pro is offered a pre-quarterfinal interview. “I wish Medvedev, if he is interviewed before his QF, would decline it by saying ‘Sorry, me not speak English’ with the heaviest accent possible.” Another fan expressed their disapproval with the “gross comment from an ESPN commentator.” Furthermore, the user also outlined how Gilbert’s comments were a “snub to Medvedev and Sinner, whose English is just fine”. And they aren’t wrong.

The tennis world is all too aware of players who struggle with English. Stars like Aryna Sabalenka have faced issues polishing their English speaking skills, like the time of her hilarious gaffe at the Cincinnati Masters where she inadvertently referred to her boyfriend as “boyfriends,” but she herself acknowledged it and corrected it immediately. While the list goes long, Sinner and Medvedev share no part in it.

One fan urged ESPN to dismiss Gilbert “from covering the rest of the tournament” for his disconcerting remarks. Unable to digest the comments, another user voiced that they “cringed so hard at this.” After reliving the nightmare of Gauff’s US Open exit, Gilbert is facing even more backlash. Appearing as a pundit for the sports broadcasting giant, the 63-year-old had to sit through the broadcast with colleague Rennae Stubbs who only recently gave her brutal verdict on Gauff’s faulty serve technique, raising further questions over Gilbert’s coaching credentials.

Gilbert seems to be in for a bit more criticism now. But, it is unlikely that Sinner and Medvedev will bat an eye to his comments. Obviously, the duo will be focused on what’s ahead, their QF thriller at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, September 5.