Chris Evert
responded to accusations against her for mispronouncing Zheng Qinwen's name
during the US Open broadcasts. A user on X criticized Evert and the rest of the
ESPN commentators for not using the correct pronunciation of the 21-year-old
tennis player’s name.
The
targeted commentators were Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez, and Pam Shriver,
while an Instagram user claimed that the name of the Paris 2024 gold medalist
is pronounced “Chin-wen” and not “Kin-wen.”
"Hey
@espn, please let Mr. Drysdale, Ms. Fernandez, and Ms. Shriver know that Qinwen
is pronounced as ‘Chinwen’ (closest to the Mandarin pronunciation). Not
‘Kinwen’. Please and thank you," the user captioned.
18-time
Grand Slam champion Chris Evert weighed in on the comments and responded that
the pronunciation she uses was confirmed by the player herself: "We
actually asked her directly, and she gave us that pronunciation!" the
former world No. 1 said.
Andy
Roddick also joined the discussion on social media, responding to Evert:
"Yes, but did you ask Ratazana on Twitter before committing to what Qinwen
told you to call her?" Roddick wrote on X jokingly.
Chrissie
Evert reposted the 2003 US Open champion’s response with a series of laughing
emojis.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
Hey @espn , please let Mr Drysdale, Ms Fernandez and Ms Shriver know that Qinwen is pronounced as ‘Chinwen’ (closest to the mandarin pronunciation). Not ‘Kinwen’. Please and thank you.
(Cc @PHShriver)
We actually asked her directly, and she gave us that pronunciation!
Ratazana
@Ratazana
Hey @espn , please let Mr Drysdale, Ms Fernandez and Ms Shriver know that Qinwen is pronounced as ‘Chinwen’ (closest to the mandarin pronunciation). Not ‘Kinwen’. Please and thank you.
(Cc @PHShriver)