The Madrid Open has apologized for a series of miscues in which the women’s stars received unequal treatment compared to the men’s players.
The women’s doubles finalists — including runners-up Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula as well as champions Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia — did not receive the opportunity to make the traditional post-match speeches, even though the men’s doubles finalists did.
“Did I think we were not going to be able to speak? No. I’ve never heard of that, like, in my life,” Pegula said Tuesday. “Even in a $10,000 Challenger final you would speak. I don’t know what century everyone was living in when they made that decision or how they actually had a conversation and decided, ‘Wow, this is a great decision we’re going to do and there’s going to be no backlash against this’.”
Gauff took to Twitter after the situation, essentially giving what would have been her speech on social media.
“Wasn’t given the chance to speak after the final today:( But thank you to the fans for supporting us and women’s tennis this week! Thanks @JLPegula for always keeping it fun on the court and hitting unreal clutch shots hahahaha Lastly, big congratulations Vika and Bia,” she wrote.
“Also thanks to my team and Jess’s team of course! Also for the ball kids, tournament staff, and everyone else who works hard behind the scenes. Twitter format doesn’t allow me to say everything I would’ve said during the speech if we had one. But just wanted to say I’m thankful.”
also thanks to my team and Jess’s team of course! Also for the ball kids, tournament staff, and everyone else who works hard behind the scenes. Twitter format doesn’t allow me to say everything I would’ve said during the speech if we had one. But just wanted to say I ‘m thankful
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) May 7, 2023
Azarenka also criticized the tournament organizers for the decision.
“What happened in terms of doubles was completely unacceptable,” Azarenka said Thursday. “There’s a lot of conversations, obviously, internally, of what happened and I want to see how that develops and what are the consequences of those decisions. So that’s why I don’t want to make too many comments. I believe to give people the opportunity to figure out what’s the best course of action. Do I think it’s unacceptable? It’s absolutely unacceptable.”
Yet the canceled speeches were just the final straw, capping off an inauspicious week for the tournament filled with charges of sexism.
The revealing outfits worn by ball girls prompted criticism of the tournament organizers, as did birthday cakes presented to men’s and women’s champions, which differed dramatically in size. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek was scheduled to play in the early hours on Saturday morning.
That doesn’t look right https://t.co/ySiXWiqdNa
— Bianca (@Bandreescu_) May 5, 2023
The organizers of the tournament released a statement apologizing to players and fans on Thursday.
“We sincerely apologize to all the players and fans who expect more of the Mutua Madrid Open tournament,” chief executive Gerard Tsobanian said. “Not giving our women’s doubles finalists the chance to address their fans at the end of the match was unacceptable, and we have apologised directly to Victoria [Azarenka], Beatriz [Haddad Maia], Coco [Gauff] and Jessica [Pegula].
“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.”
The WTA already had indicated that it would investigate the Madrid Open, which ran over two weeks this year for the first time. The tournament is run by sports super-agency IMG.
