John McEnroe has been called out for seemingly poking fun at Mirra Andreeva’s botched French Open run.

Andreeva turned up to support her coach, Conchita Martinez, playing in a seniors’ match at Wimbledon. She shouted from the stands and displayed a banner that read: “Let’s go! Senorita! Top spin! You are golden.”

Martinez is said to have texted “you are golden” to Andreeva ahead of her own Wimbledon campaign. It comes a month after the 18-year-old lost her cool at the French Open and was beaten by qualifier Lois Boisson.

McEnroe was criticised by his fellow BBC pundits for implying that Martinez should have sent the message to her client ahead of Roland Garros. Presenter Balding, referring to a banner Andreeva had made for her coach, said: “‘You are golden’, that’s what Conchita texted to Mirra at the beginning of these Championships, ‘Just remember, you are golden. You can win this’.”

Balding, looking genuinely taken aback by McEnroe’s comment and pausing for a second, responded: “Why are you saying that?”

Fellow BBC pundit Tracy Austin also took umbrage with her fellow American, blurting out: “Oh, come on!”

McEnroe attempted to double down, telling them: “I don’t mean to be a bummer here, I’m just saying…”

The 66-year-old laughed awkwardly before bluntly demanding: “Forget it!”

Austin then awkwardly insisted: “Yeah, move on, next question.”