‘She Is No Serena Williams’- Australian Open’s Unapologetic Bias Towards 18-Year-Old Coco Gauff Over Lesser-Known Grand Slam Champion Irks Tennis World

The Australian Open has been met with criticism for what many are calling an unapologetic bias towards Coco Gauff over lesser-known Grand Slam champion, Iga Swiatek. The tournament heavily promotes Gauff, known for her charismatic personality and on-court theatrics. They have  largely ignored Swiatek, who won the French Open in 2020 and currently ranks higher than Gauff.

Many in the tennis world have taken issue with the tournament’s treatment of the two players. Some fans have called it a clear example of the sport’s ongoing problem with age and race bias. Gauff, who is African American, has been touted as the future of American tennis, while Swiatek, who is Polish, has been largely overlooked.

The tournament’s bias towards Gauff irked fans and they remind her she is no Serena Williams 

Fans are blasting the Australian Open for putting Coco Gauff at Rod Laver Arena over Iga Swiatek. Many believe that the decision shows a clear bias towards Gauff, despite Swiatek’s recent Grand Slam win at the 2022 French Open. Some fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment, stating that the decision is unfair and undermines the achievements of Swiatek. They also said that Swiatek deserved the same level of recognition and exposure as Gauff. This has led to criticism from both players and fans, who argue that the tournament’s focus on Gauff is detracting from the achievements of other players, particularly those who are not as well-known.

The bias towards Gauff is not limited to the Australian Open. The recent fixtures have annoyed and surprised fans all over the world. Authorities have decided to let Gauff play at Rod Laver Arena. The fans were angered that Swiatek, the world number one wasn’t shown the preference.

One perplexed user tweeted, “Coco Gauff over Iga Swiatek on RLA is horrible. She is no Serena Williams, not yet.” The tournament’s bias towards Gauff is also seen as a reflection of the sport’s larger problem with age and race bias. Below are such astonished reactions from fans on Twitter-

Tennis has a history of promoting young, charismatic players, particularly those who are from Western countries. This has led to a lack of representation for players from other countries. They  are often overlooked in favor of more marketable players.

The Australian Open’s treatment of Gauff and Swiatek is a clear example of this bias. It shows that the tournament values marketability and personality over talent and achievement.

READ MORE- 18-Year-Old Coco Gauff Getting Muddled in ‘Lame’ and ‘Unnecessary’ Comparison With Fellow American Player Triggers Fans – ‘Couldn’t Even Make It to Top 100′

This is a problem that needs to be addressed if the sport wants to be truly inclusive and fair to all players.

It is important to note that the Australian Open and its organizers have not publicly commented on this criticism. However, the tournament’s treatment of non-American players highlights the ongoing issue of bias in the sport.

Gauff has been struggling to address the issue of pay disparity

Men and women are paid equally in events like the Grand Slams and the top ATP and WTA 1000 competitions. For the lesser levels of competition, there are different rules. Gauff recently won one of the lower-tier WTA 250 tournaments but received a different amount of prize money than the men’s division. Gauff was asked about the difference in prize money between her and the men’s champion.

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At a press conference, she also discussed her plans to buy a flight to Melbourne instead of focusing on the prize money. Share your thoughts about the American ace in the comments below.