American tennis is going through an exciting phase right now. Ahead of the US Open 2023, some of the top men’s and women’s players featured recently in a photoshoot for the popular Conde Nast-owned magazine, Vanity Fair. Some top stars such as Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Venus Williams were conspiciously missing from it.
Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Claire Liu and Danielle Collins were amongst the ladies who agreed to get clicked. The photoshoot also involved top ATP Tour players such as Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Maxime Cressy, Mackenzie MacDonald, Sebastian Korda and Michael Mmoh.
Fans miss Coco Gauff amongst US stars not part of the photoshoot
Some fans were impressed with the number of players Vanity Fair was able to convince and along with that, some of their photos. However, mostly the photoshoot has not been upto the mark for X users, who expressed their displeasure over a number of issues. One of them showed how popular Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin and naturally, Venus Williams are amongst the tennis-loving public, even outside the United States.
Here is Vanity Fair’s post on X and some of the fan reactions to the photoshoot –
The current field of American pro tennis players is the most exciting, talented, and varied we’ve seen in decades—men and women alike.
On the eve of the US Open, VF takes a closer look at the emerging talents of American tennis.
🔗: https://t.co/bsaW9EHO2K pic.twitter.com/g45yfKShhA
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 15, 2023
Not y’all snubbing Kenin who is among the younger on this list and has a slam title to her name already?
— Iunanana (@Iunanana0) August 15, 2023
where is Venus?
— Serena’s snatched wig (@Danidilo2) August 15, 2023
This was executed in such a sophomoric manner it’s laughable. From the photography to the omission of our top player Taylor Fritz this was a missed opportunity! Where is Coco, Wolf, Kenin….??
— Patrick Lowe (@PatrickLow70982) August 15, 2023
You are talking about American tennis players but you dont have Venus Williams nor Coco Gauff in your photoshoot. That is ridiculous. Especially the disrespect to Venus is unacceptable. What is the reason for this? Is this a racial thing? @WTA @VanityFair
— zuurtje (@zuurtje3) August 15, 2023
Where’s Coco? 😒
— Jeniffer L. Estrada (@Jeniestra) August 16, 2023
On the other hand, some fans questioned Vanity Fair on the kind of photoshoot done –
It’s terrible to see these brave girls, with a good personality, treated to show something they do not have. A lame tentative to reduce women to an object, trying to figure them as sexy things, what they are not at all.
Totally disrespectful.— Johannes Lehner (@JohannesLeh) August 15, 2023
Men: relaxed chilled just hanging
Women: #sexobjects
JHC.
And they agreed to it, so what can you say.— Laura B 💯+ (@avasbar20) August 15, 2023
Your images are atrocious ! They all look good and you succeeded in making them look ugly
— Madame de Maintenon (@MDMAintenon) August 16, 2023
Please don’t go woke! Just play tennis! I love tennis I don’t want to boycott Tennis!
— Jacqueline (@Jacquel51452163) August 15, 2023
How are Americans faring at Cincinnati Masters 2023?
As of Wednesday, in the men’s singles category, Mackenzie McDonald beat Yannick Hanfmann in the Round of 64. Tommy Paul was leading against Frenchman, Ugo Humbert, 6-1, 1-1 at the time of writing this report in his Round of 32 match. Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz are scheduled to play their Round of 32 matches.
Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins are through to the Round of 32, while Jessica Pegula was level at 5-5 in the first set against Martina Trevisan. Coco Gauff is set to take on Mayar Sharif in her next match. Cincinnati Masters is one of the most high-profile tournaments in the calendar year, where usually the winner of the tournament has the upper hand ahead of the US Open.
