Tennis legend John McEnroe called out Coco Gauff for prioritizing commercial activities over her game, warning that her packed schedule of endorsements could hinder her on-court performance. Speaking after Gauff’s error-strewn fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro at the 2024 US Open, McEnroe said, “I’ve noticed she has been on a lot of commercials… they’ve got to balance that with giving her time to work on her game and feel super confident again” (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025). Meanwhile, Gauff’s net worth has soared to £27.5 million ($34 million USD) in 2025, making her the highest-earning female tennis player, according to Forbes (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025) (web:0, web:6).
McEnroe’s Critique and Gauff’s Response
McEnroe’s comments followed Gauff’s 2024 US Open exit, where her 19 double faults and 29 unforced errors highlighted ongoing serving issues. He suggested her lucrative deals with brands like New Balance, Head, and UPS were detracting from her focus, noting, “You can tell she’s not feeling that [confidence] right now” (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025) (web:0). Gauff, however, showed no signs of heeding McEnroe’s advice, citing “sponsor things” as a reason for skipping the 2025 US Open mixed doubles: “The free week is already packed for me, for sponsor things… I didn’t want to waste mental energy” (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025) (web:0). Her recent French Open title and exhibition match with Andre Agassi against McEnroe and Venus Williams underscore her ability to juggle commitments (web:6).
Gauff’s Financial Empire and 2025 Season
Forbes reported Gauff earned £27.5 million in 2025, outpacing all female players and trailing only Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner overall, with off-court earnings boosted by endorsements (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025) (web:0). Despite her 2024 US Open setback, Gauff’s 2025 season included a second Grand Slam at Roland Garros, though her 320 double faults, including 16 in a Cincinnati loss to Jasmine Paolini, prompted a coaching change to biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan (Express.co.uk, August 25, 2025) (web:0). Facing Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round, Gauff aims to reclaim her 2023 US Open form, with potential clashes against Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek looming.
Broader Context
McEnroe’s critique echoes pressures faced by young stars like Emma Raducanu, navigating media scrutiny, or Luke Littler, balancing darts fame. Gauff’s financial success, akin to Iga Swiatek’s £17.5 million net worth, highlights her marketability (EssentiallySports, August 18, 2025) (web:2). Fans on X defended her, with one post stating, “Coco’s thriving on and off the court—McEnroe’s just loud” (@TennisFanUSA, August 24, 2025). As Gauff, seeded third, enters the 2025 US Open, her ability to balance endorsements with MacMillan’s coaching could determine her success in silencing critics like McEnroe.
