Tennis tournament responds to sexism claims

On Thursday, the Madrid Open offered an apology for not giving the women’s doubles finalists a chance to speak following their winning match, though it did not address other accusations of sexism that were leveled against the tennis tournament.

Mutua Madrid Open CEO Gerard Tsobanian issued an apologetic statement after women’s doubles winners Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia and finalists Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were not given the chance to speak with spectators following last weekend’s final match.

Meanwhile, both men’s and women’s singles and men’s doubles winners were given the chance to speak following their final matches.

“We sincerely apologize to all the players and fans who expect more of the Mutua Madrid Open tournament. Not giving our women’s doubles finalists the chance to address their fans at the end of the match was unacceptable and we have apologized directly to Victoria, Beatriz, Coco, and Jessica,” Tsobanian’s statement read. “We are working internally and with the WTA to review our protocols and are committed to improving our process moving forward. We made a mistake and this will not ever happen again.”

During a Madrid Open event, organizers were criticized for dressing the ball girls on the main court in crop tops and short skirts. https://t.co/iHQLVWA5kc

— CNN (@CNN) May 9, 2023

The statement didn’t include any response to other sexism accusations raised during the tournament, including the outfits that ballgirls were made to wear. Those outfits included short skirts and revealing tops. There was also a disparity in the size of cakes given to the tournament’s male and female players for their respective birthdays.

Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment https://t.co/x89RytI0zV

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 5, 2023

Australian tennis player John Millman was not impressed by the response, saying on Twitter, “It’s pretty simple. Show some proper respect. It’s the very least they deserve.”

[Fox News]