A reporter covering the Australian Open is repeatedly trying to provoke players into making negative comments about President Trump. And fans are starting to get fed up with it.
Thus far, the only person who seemed to be falling for it was Coco Gauff. Gauff whined that being a black woman in America is difficult under the current administration.
“I hope forward that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other about different topics and things like that,” she said, according to a video posted by The Tennis Letter. “Obviously, I’ve been pretty vocal about how I felt.”
“At this point, I feel a bit fatigued talking about it just because of the fact that it is hard also being a Black woman in this country and having to experience things, even online, and seeing marginalized communities being affected.”
Fans Call for Ban as Australian Open Reporter Keeps Pushing Trump Questions on Players
The reporter in question got what he wanted out of Gauff, to nobody’s surprise. But he’s repeatedly attempted to get other American stars to make negative comments about the United States under Trump’s second term.
Why? Well, one, he’s almost assuredly a left-wing nutjob who thinks every athlete should be denigrating America. And two, well, such comments would go viral, and he’d be getting his 15 seconds of fame. In his own mind.
The reporter tried doing the same with the world’s fourth-ranked women’s tennis player, Amanda Anisimova. Unlike Gauff, she didn’t take the bait. In fact, she wrapped the reporter up in a fire blanket and beat the nonsense out of him. Figuratively, of course.
“I’ve been asking a lot of the American players just how it feels to play under the American flag right now. And I’m curious how you feel?” the reporter said.
“I was born in America. So, I’m always proud to represent my country,” she replied. “A lot of us are doing really well, and it’s great to see a lot of great athletes on the women’s side and men’s side. I feel like we’re all doing a great job representing ourselves.”
Undeterred, the reporter pressed again, asking, “In the context of the last year of everything that’s been happening in the U.S., does that complicate that feeling at all?”
President Trump just marked his first year in the White House this administration. So it wasn’t a subtle shot at all.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” she countered.
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Taylor Fritz, a former US Open finalist, also got asked the question. He, too, did not take the bait.
“I mean, not sure what we’re like specifically talking about, but there is a lot going on in the U.S., and I don’t know,” he said. “I feel like whatever I say here is going to get put in a headline, and it’s going to get taken out of context. So, I’d really rather not do something that’s going to cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament.”
There have been a few others. Fans are getting a little fed up with the reporter’s antics.
“Athletes should be asked about sport – not politics. There’s no need to mix the two,” one wrote on X.
Another added, “The person asking the BS question should lose their credentials since they are already losing any credibility as a ‘journalist.'”
Here’s my full breakdown of this liberal reporter asking EVERY American player about politics, baiting them to bash their country & President Trump
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 22, 2026
I also reveal who the reporter is. Watch & follow me on TikTok for more 👇🏼 https://t.co/Fsk9n5O2bH
“Do the right thing … and fire this reporter immediately. He’s a biased hack. PROUD TO BE AMERICAN, and I hope it makes your skin crawl,” another fumed. “Ridiculously offensive, lazy, and downright stupid reporting.”
Former men’s tennis player John Isner made the simple point that a tennis reporter has a very specific job.
“Popular opinion: Let’s ask tennis questions to the players at a tennis tournament,” he said. “This is so lame.”