On-court disputes can often lead to a break in rhythm, and that’s seemingly what Coco Gauff endured. The American talent crashed out of the Paris Olympics women’s singles format fighting tears on Tuesday, July 30. Marred by controversy, Gauff was dumped at the hands of Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the event’s third-round. Her coach, Brad Gilbert, later weighed in on the disputed call and voiced a necessary change to the umpiring system in tennis. However, this wasn’t taken kindly by fans.

The dispute occurred when the American got into a heated argument with chair umpire Jaume Campistol over a line call that initially went Gauff’s way but was immediately overturned and awarded to the Croatian. This, in turn, assisted Vekic in breaking the World No. 2’s serve and gaining a 4-2 advantage in the second set. Despite much protest, Gauff’s plead to replay the point was denied by umpire Campistol, reducing her tears as she went back and forth with the officials. Following the incident, the American lost her composure and went on to lose the match in straight sets, 7-6(7), 6-2.

Naturally, this altercation caused a stir in the sport, prompting her coach Brad Gilbert to address the situation. The 62-year-old coach took to X and said “incidental replays” should be the norm with Hawkeye.“I have said since we introduced Hawkeye replay calls like 20 years ago, That we should absolutely have incidental replays, umpires should have a tv monitor to look at replay. Same with tournament referee if they come to court, must see replay quickly.”

This response, however, did not leave an impressionable note with tennis fans who took to social media to express their concerns.

“You are both so tiresome” Tennis fans irked with Coco’s Gauff coach Brad Gilbert

Following Gilbert’s response to the unfortunate situation in Paris, tennis fans started to breathe down the coach’s and Coco Gauff’s neck. They were seemingly displeased by the 20-year-old’s on-court act and further took to X to voice their frustration.

One user bluntly stated that the reigning US Open champion needed to focus more on playing than protesting. For the unversed, at the 2023 Flushing Meadows slam, Gauff was notably involved in an on-court drama which saw her exchange heated words with the chair umpire owing to a time violation dispute. “Sorry she needs to spend less time complaining and play.” Another tennis fan highlighted that Gilbert and Gauff’s reaction was exhausting and that the former should stop “encouraging” the young talent to pursue such matters. “You are both so tiresome. Stop encouraging her to feel entitled.”

Another passionate tennis fan outlined that the American gets ticked by such disputes and this, unfortunately, has helped her rivals ‘crack the code’. Notably, earlier this season at the French Open, the World No. 1 was witnessed in near tears after a controversial line call seemingly resulted in her semifinal loss against Iga Swiatek. “Unfortunately Cocoa’s problems are structural in nature and at this level are nearly impossible to overcome…this I believe is the cause of her frustration as her opponents have “cracked the code”.

Moreover, one fan urged Gilbert to do a better job as a coach after decisively citing her fault. “She was wrong , and u should do a better job.” Meanwhile, one tennis supporter took a cryptic dig at the American star by saying “Plz quit so we can get the help we need.”

Despite the loss, Gauff still has a chance to go home with an Olympic gold medal. She has a task on her hands in both the women’s doubles and the mixed doubles event at the Games. The World No. 2 is set to perform with compatriot Taylor Fritz to lock horns with Canadian duo Gabriela Dabrowski and Felix Auger Aliassime in the quarterfinal of the multi-sport event on Wednesday, July 31.