Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Sparks Shock With Subtle Reaction to Australian Broadcaster’s Snub of Danielle Collins vs Destanee Aiava

The match between Danielle Collins and Destanee Aiava was a jaw-dropping event at the KIA Arena. The youngster turned the heat on the heat against the American pro, who faced not only her opponent’s powerful shots but also the crowd’s boos echoing for most parts of the match. However, while this match unfolded on the women’s side, fans were displeased when their excitement was abruptly cut short to focus on an ATP doubles match featuring Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis at the John Cain Arena. This decision undoubtedly sparked some glares at the broadcasting agency.

During the match, Collins initially took the first set but struggled in the second, trailing 5-2 before opting for a medical timeout due to a foot issue. After returning to the court, she could not secure the second set, leading to dramatic moments where she yelled, “Shut Up!” at crowd distractions. Later, she mocked the booing spectators by blowing kisses and saying, “And now what?” She concluded her post-match interview with a cheeky, “Thank you guys, love ya,” aimed at those hoping for her defeat.

But fans watching from home expressed outrage when Channel 9 chose to air a doubles match instead of the Collins-Aiava clash. Caitlyn Cassidy from The Guardian criticized this decision on X, writing, “Channel 9 choosing to cover a doubles game on their free to air network of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis over Destanee Aiava’s second-round game – who has just gone to a tiebreak in the first set – is a wildly disgraceful way to promote women’s sport @AustralianOpen @Channel9.”

Her words resonated widely, reaching nearly 47K views on the tweet and even catching the attention of tennis legend Rennae Stubbs, who left a surprised emoji, “😳” under the tweet to convey her emotions about the situation. For the unversed, Aussie duo Kyrgios and Kokkinakis also had their first-round doubles match scheduled for Thursday against compatriots Alexander Vukic and James Duckworth. Channel 9 had a tough decision to make about which match to air.

While Collins went on to win the match with a score of 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, and a pass into the next round, fans lamented over the absurdity of the broadcasting situation online. Notable, this isn’t the first time Stubbs has expressed disappointment over coverage in women’s tennis.

When Rennae Stubbs called out the unfair broadcasting of WTA matches

Back in 2023, Rennae Stubbs, the Australian tennis coach and former pro, made headlines with her candid remarks about the unequal coverage of women’s and men’s tournaments. During the 2023 Qatar Open in Doha, where Iga Swiatek dominated Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-0 in the final, Stubbs noticed something frustrating: there was only one commentator for the women’s match.

Meanwhile, at the same time in Rotterdam, the ABN AMRO Open featured two commentators for the men’s semifinal between Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner. Both events were ATP and WTA 500 tournaments, yet Stubbs felt the disparity was hard to ignore.

Taking to social media, Stubbs didn’t hold back her disappointment. She posted on X, “Women’s final from Doha, 1 announcer. Men’s semi final from Rotterdam, 2 announcers. What’s up with that TC!???” Her message resonated with many who share her concerns about how women’s sports are often sidelined in media coverage.

Stubbs also pointed out that at the Argentina Open, men’s matches continued to receive two commentators while the women’s final in Doha had just one. In another post on X, she expressed her confusion: “And also for the men’s match in Buenos Aires there were two commentators. Women’s final just one!?? I’m so confused.”

This ongoing issue of unequal representation in sports broadcasting has sparked conversations among fans and tennis legends alike. As Stubbs and others continue to advocate for change, broadcasters will need to respond to these calls for more equitable coverage of women’s events in the future.