CNN
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The managers of Madrid Open has apologized to four major tennis players following widespread criticism of her behavior following the women’s doubles final on Sunday.
Nor the winner – Beatriz Haddad Mia and Victoria Azarenka – or losers – the US pair Jessica Pegula And Coco Goff – gave acceptance speeches, later accusing the organizers of not allowing him to speak after the match.
“We sincerely apologize to all the players and fans who had higher expectations of the Madrid Open,” Madrid Open CEO and tournament organizer Gerard Sobanian said in a statement sent to CNN.
“Not giving our women’s doubles finalists the opportunity to address their fans at the end of the match was unacceptable and we have apologized directly to Victoria, Beatriz, Coco and Jessica.
“We are working internally and with the WTA to review our protocol and are committed to improving our process moving forward. We made a mistake and it will never happen again.”
After the match, Goff tweeted that she “wasn’t given a chance to speak after the final,” while Azarenka said it was “hard to explain to Leo that mommy isn’t able to say hi to him at the trophy ceremony.”
Pegula added: “I don’t know what century everyone was living in when they made that decision.”
But this was not the only controversy during the week-long tournament.
The managers were charged sexism After the ball girls wore crop tops and short skirts for the event, the skirts were swapped for long shorts later in the men’s final on Sunday.
Earlier, Azarenka also criticized the organizers after a fan posted two photos on Twitter showing the difference in size of the birthday cake given to Carlos Alcarz and Arina Sabalenkawho share a birthday on May 5.
“Couldn’t be more right about the treatment,” Azarenka said in response to the tweet.
That drew a reaction from tournament director Feliciano Lopez, a former world No. 12 and seven-time winner on the ATP Tour, who said he was “surprised by the reaction after the gesture.”
