The Madrid Open controversy has taken off like wildfire. Debates have been raging all around the tennis world about how the women’s doubles finalists were not given the opportunity to speak during the trophy ceremony. However, despite the strong views that many tennis players and fans have expressed, one significant athletic organization in the tennis field has not yet released a statement about the situation.
The Women’s Tennis Association, or WTA, has kept quiet throughout the ‘Madridgate’. Upon observing this, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, came forward and criticized the WTA for failing to issue a statement over the same.
Serena Williams’ former coach criticizes the WTA
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On the recent episode of her podcast show, “The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast”, the Australian tennis coach criticized the WTA for not making a statement regarding the Madrid Open controversy. In the doubles finals, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were not given a chance to deliver speeches during the presentation ceremony. Stubbs shared her discomfort about how the WTA hasn’t issued a public statement event regarding the same.
She said, “Guys it’s a simple f**king statement. You say we are very unhappy with the way our ladies doubles finalists and champions were treated. We are in discussions of how we’re going to handle this going forward. But we want to put it out there right now that we are not happy with the way that was handled. That’s it.”
Further, she also expressed how it was very simple to just release a statement regarding how players were treated. And how, looking forward, they could have handled the situation. Not only that, Williams’ former coach lashed out over how the women’s doubles champions and finalists were neglected at the esteemed event.
The only tennis organization to denounce the treatment of women’s tennis players at the Madrid Open is Novak Djokovic‘s PTPA. But, the ATP and WTA have yet to issue a statement on the contentious situation.
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Novak Djokovic’s PTPA condemns Madrid Open controversy
In order to represent players’ interests and address shortcomings of the current system put in place by the ATP, WTA, and ITF, the Serbian tennis player created the Professional Tennis Players Association in 2019. The PTPA, in keeping with their organization’s ethos, issued a peculiar statement regarding the Madrid Open issue.
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The tournament’s organizers said in a statement a few days ago that they would make no comments on the situation. Following that, the association’s executive director criticized the organizers in an interview with the BBC for refusing to acknowledge their error.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Let us know in the comments.
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