Tennis winners Arnya Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz should have had a joyous weekend, but charges of unfair treatment at least partially dampened the mood. And there were other controversies that came up throughout the competition.
Sabalenka, who won the women’s title by defeating World No. 1 Iga Switek, and Alcaraz, who defeated Jan-Lennard Struff to win the men’s title, both had birthdays on Friday. And tournament organisers gave birthday cakes to both of them.
However, the difference was immediately noticeable when images of the two players posing with their doughnuts were uploaded side by side. Two days later, women’s doubles champion Victoria Azarenka, who was involved in a different issue, brought it up on social media.
Madrid Open cake debate
Feliciano Lopez, the tournament’s director, addressed the criticism by pointing out that 20-year-old Alcaraz had just won his semifinal match on centre court when he was given his enormous birthday cake. The Spaniard was also performing in front of his own supporters.
Sabalenka, who was born in Belarus and just turned 25, received a single-tier cake after winning her semifinal match.
“That doesn’t look right,” remarked world No. 27 Canadian Bianca Andreescu made a statement.
According to tournament officials, Holger Rune, another male player, also had a birthday during the competition and was given a cake that was about the same size as Sabalenka’s.
Speeches for the women’s doubles champions are postponed.
While beating Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the Sunday final, Azarenka and her doubles partner Beatriz Haddad-Maia were not given the chance to address the fans as is customary.
Men’s doubles, men’s singles, and women’s singles finalists were all permitted to speak at the occasion.
Gauff was especially concerned, but she maintained her optimism as she expressed her worries on social media.
Was not granted the opportunity to address the crowd following the final today: (But I want to thank the fans for their support of us and women’s tennis this week.
The cancellation of the women’s doubles speeches lacked an official justification. The competition has, however, drawn flak in the past for scheduling women’s contests. In her speech following the women’s singles championship, Swiatek mentioned that her semifinal didn’t end until one in the morning.
The attire of ball girls abruptly changes.
Another debate that persisted in Madrid for a full two weeks was the courtside staffers’ dress.
The all-female ball crew wore short skirts and midriff-baring tops on the main court during men’s matches, while younger ball boys and girls in more modest attire were on duty in the outer courts.
The exposing attire worn during the semifinal round was changed to three-quarter-length skirts for the men’s final on Sunday as a result of complaints, including those from those watching on television.
