Chris Evert and Andy Roddick respond to social media criticism over Qinwen’s name

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.”

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"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.

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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.

Ratazana

@Ratazana

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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)

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Chris Evert

@ChrissieEvert

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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)

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