3 weeks ago
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The tears have been flowing in Flushing Meadows at this year's US Open, and it's not just Coco Gauff.
Another former champion, current announcer Chris Evert, wept on Monday as ESPN celebrated the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title — a three-set victory over Australia's Evonne Goolagong at the tournament's former venue in Forrest Hills, Queens.
But after watching video footage of Billie Jean King, Patrick McEnroe and others fawning over her illustrious career, as well as her 1975 win over Goolagong, Evert couldn't hold back the tears any longer.
'I feel like Coco Gauff right now,' she said. 'I'm sorry.'
Now one year older than Evert was when she won her first open a half century ago, Gauff has had an emotional run at this year's tournament, which ended with Monday's two-set loss to Japan's Naomi Osaka. The third-seeded women's player and 2023 champion has been retooling her serve, and amid that frustration, she wept both during and after her second-round win over Donna Vekic.
Not everyone was happy about the announcer's joke, including one X user who wrote: 'espn did a whole tribute to chris evert and at the end the first thing she did was take a shot at coco gauff.'
Chris Evert wept on Monday as ESPN celebrated the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title
Coco Gauff cries after defeating Donna Vekic, of Croatia, during the second round
Chris Evert was just 20 when she won her first US Open title in Forrest Hills back in 1975
Aside from the joke, the moment was an emotional one for Evert, who announced in 2023 that she is once again battling ovarian cancer. She was previously cured of the disease in 2022 years after it claimed the life of her sister, Jeanne.
'She's one of my favorite all the human beings,' King said of Evert in the video tribute.
'There was something extremely relatable,' added rival Martina Navratilova. 'She brought new fans to the game and made little girls and boys think "Oh, I think I can do this. I can follow in those footsteps."'
Back on set, John McEnroe couldn't help but add some levity to the moment.
'The attention you brought to the sport however made me want to be a tennis player and thankfully I became one,' he told Evert. 'And finally, like millions of other young boys I wanted to marry you, I admit it.'
Of course, it was McEnroe's rival Jimmy Connors who won Evert's heart. The two became engaged, although the marriage was quickly called off and the two tennis legends went their separate ways.
'Then you got engaged to Jimmy Connors,' McEnroe continued as his co-hosts laughed. 'I hated that. If I ever play that guy, going to beat his ass. Chrissie, I love you, congrats. Glad I can call you a friend.'
