For more than 40 years, John McEnroe screaming “You cannot be serious” has been the unchallenged best soundbite in the history of tennis. We now have a rival. And while McEnroe’s screams have become more humorous over the years, this was funny immediately.
No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 1 Iga Świątek were in a second-set tiebreaker in their semifinal match at the National Bank Open (FKA, the Canadian Open) in Montreal. With Pegula leading 4-3, the match was briefly halted mid-point, thanks to a blooper that will be seen, and heard, for years to come.
Pegula lobbed a shot, sending Świątek back toward the baseline. But right before Świątek hit her shot, a song began to play over the PA, causing the point to be stopped and eventually, replayed. And while essentially any song being played at such a random time would have been funny, this was on another level. As Pegula, Świątek, the fans at Centre Court and everyone watching at home heard the unmistakable open to, of all songs, “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex.
no way 'Cotton Eye Joe' comes on mid-point pic.twitter.com/iCYf3hwnPG
— Ryan (@Some1NamedRyan) August 12, 2023
While Pegula was understandably confused in the moment, she couldn’t help but laugh at the odd incident afterward.
I mean what the 😂 https://t.co/EWtqqwauLQ
— Jessie Pegula (@JPegula) August 12, 2023
She was not alone.
longtime Wimbledon tradition https://t.co/3sDNx5J9DW
— Jason Gay (@jasongay) August 12, 2023
This should happen without warning at every sporting event https://t.co/DjfzM4TYSd
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) August 12, 2023
The horrified screams from the crowd are top tier comedy https://t.co/ZrzWuTbYvL
— Bullpen Insider Jeff Everson (@EVR551) August 12, 2023
Its my first day as audio technician at the Canadian Open and all the buttons are in french send help https://t.co/pXfvSAgFCn
— 🇸🇲 Sickos Committee 🇸🇲 (@SickosCommittee) August 12, 2023
Need this pre-snap on third downs. https://t.co/oi7JzukDBW
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 12, 2023
NO! LEAVE IT PLAYING! https://t.co/v2f2Cs9uAq
— Vincent Verhei (@VincentVerhei) August 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/Snaves/status/1690451663449128960
While Świątek won the tiebreaker, Pegula responded to win the third set and with it, the match, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 and will play in the final.
[Ryan on Twitter, Photo Credit: Tennis Channel]
