Coco Gauff clarifies she ‘wasn’t mad’ at cartoon depiction

MELBOURNE, Australia — World No. 4 Coco Gauff has mentioned she “wasn’t mad” a few cartoon posted by the US Tennis Affiliation, after her unfavourable response to the hype submit went viral in a single day.

The cartoon, which was posted on Sunday (native time) within the lead-up to the primary day of the Australian Open, depicted Gauff and her fellow seeded Individuals as characters within the animated tv present “The Wild Thornberrys,” which aired from 1998 to 2004. It was later deleted by the USTA after Gauff highlighted the cartoon on each X and Instagram, saying it was “foul” and had made her and her compatriots “look so ugly.”

However in her information convention following her straight-sets first-round win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Gauff clarified she “wasn’t mad” on the submit and the response to her feedback was overblown.

“Oh, folks thought I used to be being critical, that I used to be really mad with it?” she requested. “I understand TikTok humor may be very totally different than Twitter. I noticed anyone posted, like, there isn’t any manner she’s that [upset] over it.

“I used to be like, no, I wasn’t mad. We seemed terrible. And really, I noticed Ben [Shelton] submit first on his story. Then I DM’d Ben instantly and I used to be like, ‘What is that this?’ Then Jess [Pegula] began texting me. We have been simply, like, laughing at every individual, we have been laughing at [Sebastian Korda’s depiction], I feel Ben and Sebi had the worst ones.”

The submit featured Gauff, Pegula, Shelton, Korda, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro. Gauff mentioned the artists “did nice with the cartoon” however added that she would not know if she desires herself “drawn as that artwork type.”

The 19-year-old mentioned she additionally messaged the USTA privately to jokingly ask what the thought course of behind the Thornberrys-style art work was, however the group by no means received again to her.

“They by no means responded. I received left on learn by USTA, which sucks,” she mentioned.

Gauff entered the 2024 Australian Open as the latest ladies’s Grand Slam champion, having gained the US Open title final 12 months. She faces compatriot Caroline Dolehide within the second spherical on Tuesday.