Madrid Open organizers apologize to four tennis players after criticism over treatment of women in tournament

The Madrid Open organizers have apologized to the four tennis players after the criticism over treatment of women  after the completion of the women’s doubles final on Sunday, May 7. Neither the winners (Beatriz Haddad Maia and Victoria Azarenka) nor the runners-up (Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff) were allowed to give the speech after the championship match.

“We sincerely apologize to all the players and fans who expect more of the 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,” Gerard Tsobanian, CEO & Tournament Organiser of the Madrid Open, said in a statement sent to CNN.

Surprised by this reaction after this gesture: Feliciano López

“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,” he asserted. After the match, Gauff tweeted “wasn’t given the chance to speak after the final”, while on the other hand, Azarenka wrote“hard to explain to Leo that mommy isn’t able to say hello to him at the trophy ceremony.”

“I don’t know what century everyone was living in when they made that decision,” Pegula stated. But during the week-long event, there were other disputable problems as well. The ball girls were given crop tops and short skirts for the occasion, but the organizers were accused of sexism when they changed the skirts for the men’s final on Sunday.

In the past, Azarenka had also criticized organizers after a fan posted two photos on Twitter showing the difference in the size of the birthday cakes given to Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, who has a birthday on May 5. “Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment,” she responded to the tweet.

Tournament director Feliciano López, a former world No. 12 and seven-time ATP Tour champion, responded to that and said “surprised by this reaction after this gesture.”