Patrick McEnroe puts brother John McEnroe in Jelena Ostapenko’s category for questioning electronic line calling at US Open

Jelena Ostapenko had raised questions about the technology's authenticity at the 2023 US Open as well.

Patrick McEnroe puts brother John McEnroe in Jelena Ostapenko’s category for questioning electronic line calling at US Open

John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Jelena Ostapenko (Images via NY Post, People, Daily Mail)

Former American tennis ace Partick McEnroe put his brother John McEnroe in the same bracket as Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko as they discussed electronic line calling. As John queried about the authenticity of the calls made by the electronic line calling system, Patrick jokingly took a jibe at his brother saying that only he and Ostapenko would ask such a question. 

John McEnroe was taken aback by this comparison as he said that he is generally not thrown in the same bracket as the Latvian. It is worth mentioning that Jelena Ostapenko has been a constant critic of the Hawkeye system. The 26-year-old recently confessed that she does not believe 100% in the system. 

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“Honestly, I don’t believe in it 100%,” Ostapenko said in her post-match interview after beating Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the 2023 US Open. Now, during the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev, John McEnroe brought up this topic only to get trolled by his brother. 

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Also Read: “I’m always really proud of everything she does,” Naomi Osaka believes she’d love for her child to look up to Coco Gauff as a role model

Patrick McEnroe backs Coco Gauff to win 2023 US Open

Patrick McEnroe Coco Gauff
Patrick McEnroe, Coco Gauff (Images via YT, TWJ)

While Patrick McEnroe left no room for his brother with his cheeky Jelena Ostapenko jibe, the former American has backed Coco Gauff to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. Patrick feels that Gauff is playing her best tennis this year and the two titles (Washington Open and Cincinnati Masters) won by the American only testify to the fact.

“I definitely think Coco Gauff can win this title,” Patrick said to ESPN prior to the start of the tournament. “A great summer for her, winning two big titles including one where she just defeated Iga Swiatek, the first time she’s ever beaten her. Coco has got the belief now, she has got coach [Brad] Gilbert by her side, she has got a great team around her and I think she is playing with her inner self a lot more. So, I definitely think this could be very well her time.”

As the tournament reaches its business end and Gauff still fighting for her, it seems Patrick McEnroe’s prediction might just come true. Her biggest threat, Iga Swiatek is already out, and having defeated Karolina Muchova, Gauff will go high on confidence in the semifinals. If she succeeds, Aryna Sabalenka is likely to be her opponent in the final and it will be nothing short of a thrilling battle.

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