“She is not American and does not fit their stereotypes” – Iga Swiatek fans criticize ESPN analyst for preferring Coco Gauff to the Polish star

Iga Swiatek proves she is no flash in the pan as she moves into the quarterfinals of the US Open. With her next challenger being Jessica Pegula, Mary Joe Fernández caused a stir by suggesting that Pegula could beat Swiatek, a statement that did not go down well with Polish fans who expressed their frustration.

Iga Swiatek's fans have criticized ESPN commentators, particularly Mary Joe Fernandez, for constantly downplaying the Polish star's abilities. After Fernandez suggested that Jessica Pegula could defeat Swiatek in the US Open quarterfinals, fans took to social media to vent their frustration, accusing the commentators of underestimating Swiatek's talent.

This sentiment was reinforced when Brad Gilbert suggested before her match against Pegula that Samsonova could beat Swiatek. However, Swiatek defeated Samsonova and made it to the quarterfinals. Afterwards, Swaitek fans commented on Fernández and Gilbert's comments.

Fans of Iga Swiatek are not happy that Mary Joe Fernández is on Pegula's side

It all started when a fan wrote: “On ESPN, Mary Jo says Pegula will beat Iga and bg replies that Samso will beat her first. Americans just don't appreciate Iga, she's Crine.” Many fans believe that Mary Joe Fernandez and Brad Gilbert's dismissive comments toward Iga Swiatek are not just based on an underestimation of her talent.

One fan commented: “Considering that Mary Jo's husband is Coco's manager and Brad is her trainer, they are obviously jealous of Iga's success.” A few months ago, Brad Gilbert made a statement that did not go down well with Swiatek's fans. “I tell you, if Naomi wins the match point against Iga at Roland Garros, then Coco has won the tournament,” Gilbert had said. Citing this comment, an Internet user highlighted: “One thing about them is that they make others beat Iga for Coco

Meanwhile, another fan wrote: “They don't care about the ratings, they just can't digest or accept the fact that she's at the top.” Being at the top is not that easy. Swiatek herself has admitted that while she has always strived to be an inspiration, she is still getting used to the burden of expectations that come with being the best in the world.

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Recently, Chris Evert was also criticized for her comments about Iga Swiatek at the US Open. Given Swiatek's dominant record against Gauff, fans were baffled by Evert's suggestion that the world No. 1 would be more confident of winning the New York Majors following Gauff's retirement.

Despite these feelings, Swiatek remains unfazed. Her calm reaction reflects that she is focused on the positive impact she can have, rather than the negativity that may surround her.

One of Swiatek’s fans put American players into context and wrote: “They keep hyping the American and then pretend to be shocked when none of them succeed. They think she's OK, but they also hate her because she's not American and doesn't fit their stereotypes.”

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Speaking of American players, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro are still in the running for the title, but reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round. Iga Swiatek, on the other hand, is cementing her dominance by maintaining her strong performance this year and holding on to the top spot in the WTA rankings. Most recently, one fan noted: “That will never change,” We're talking about the ESPN analysts.

What do you think about Mary Joe Fernandez's prediction? Will Pegula beat Swiatek? Let us know in the comments below.