Tennis fans questioned the possibility of racial undertones in Adam Lefkoe’s comment to Sloane Stephens (Image: TNT Sports)

A comment aimed at USA tennis star Sloane Stephens during her Roland Garros analyst desk duties on Tuesday had fans of the sport furious online.

TNT’s French Open coverage saw tennis fans accuse Adam Lefkoe of using racially insensitive language toward Stephens live on air. Stephens joined the broadcast desk alongside John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Caroline Wozniacki as coverage began from Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The tennis experts provided analysis ahead of a pair of women’s French Open quarterfinal matchups that set up a semifinal between Marta Kostyyuk and Mirra Andreeva. It comes after one French Open star said they felt ‘destroyed’ in a worrying career admission.

During introductions, Lefkoe said: “Yee-haw, Sloane Stephens, y’all. Great to see you get off the ranch, I know the crops needed tending.”

The comment was made as Lefkoe observed Stephens’s outfit that included a white Western hat, a blazer, and a matching Miu Miu handbag with gold accents. While caught off guard, the 2017 U.S. Open champion kept her poise and chose not to respond.

The majority of viewers argued the reference carried racial undertones. In contrast, others described it as a tone-deaf joke that should have never been said, given the history of discrimination and abuse that Black Americans have endured for 250 years.

One fan wrote, “Tennis will never beat the allegations that it is a racist sport.” Another added, “What did I just hear? The commentary all week has been off putting. They also called Coco (Gauff) well spoken.”

A third viewer added, “Props to her for maintaining her cool but she really shouldn’t have had to.” Stephens has repeatedly spoken about the racism she has encountered as a Black athlete, but never specified if this particular incident fit the description in that category.

Neither TNT Sports nor Lefkoe issued a public statement regarding the interaction. Several of Lefkoe’s colleagues quickly defended him on the post to clarify aspects of his life, including ESPN’s Christine Williamson. “Adam Lefkoe is married to a Black woman. and tending crops is something that farmers do. but i can totally understand how people can take this out of context,” Williamson wrote on Threads.

Stephens continued with her tournament coverage on Wednesday and also sat next to Venus Williams after the tennis legend expressed sympathy for Aryna Sabalenka following her quarterfinal loss to 22-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider.

Stephen turned professional in 2009 and has won eight WTA singles titles and entered Roland Garros with a 6-11 singles record. She earned qualifying victories over Carol Young Suh Lee, Lisa Pigato, and Leyre Romero Gormaz before falling in straight sets to Sara Bejlek in the first round of the main draw.

Meanwhile, one French Open star had to fight back tears after an injury forced their retirement.

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