Former No. 1 player Andy Roddick skeptical of U.S. Open's spotlight on Coco Gauff
Retired tennis player Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, said he wishes the tournament's organizers wouldn't put so much of a spotlight on 15-year-old sensation Cori "Coco" Gauff.
The former world No. 1 was critical of U.S. Open officials for making Gauff one of the main matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium on opening day.
Gauff, granted a wild card admission into the first round following her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, faces fellow teenager Anastasia Potapova on Monday morning at Flushing Meadows, the same day Serena Williams faces Maria Sharapova.
"I hope people have a level of patience with her," Roddick told Metro UK. "She is 15 years old so in my perfect world I don’t know I’d like to see her on Arthur Ashe Stadium first night out of the gate, I hope people give her a little bit of space to grow and take her steps."
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Roddick, who burst onto the pro scene when he was 18 years old in 2001, added that growing pains are necessary at the professional level. "We all hope she has a great run like she did at Wimbledon but she’s going to have some losses along the way, it’s part of the learning process. No one is entitled to success that quickly."
Roddick said he'd be rooting for Gauff to win despite his apprehension.
"I hope (a deep U.S. Open run) happens, I think she’s great for the sport," the 36-year-old said. "I love the way she goes about her business but I hope people can just have some patience and it’ll be nice if there is some assistance and kind of chauffeuring her into the spotlight as opposed to just putting her front and center."