If Carlos Alcaraz getting a much bigger cake than Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 Madrid Open wasn't enough of a problem, tournament director Feliciano Lopez defending it has annoyed tennis fans further.Alcaraz and Sabalenka both celebrated their birthdays on May 5. Another reason for them to rejoice was the fact that both reached their respective finals at the prestigious tournament.However, the difference in the sizes of the cakes presented to them was too big to ignore. Not just fans, but players like Victoria Azarenka and Bianca Andreescu also expressed their disappointment at the different treatment of the players. Many pointed out that Alcaraz and Sabalenka are both ranked second, have won an equal number of Majors, and the Belarusian has in fact won one more 1000 title than Alcaraz.Lopez, however, took a thinly veiled jibe at Azarenka as he shared a photograph of Holger Rune being presented with a small cake and justified the tournament's actions.Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…victoria azarenka@vika7Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment twitter.com/slaylorfritz/s…1384135Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment twitter.com/slaylorfritz/s…I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsFans called out the 41-year-old in response, calling him a "misogynist." Many also reminded Lopez that the issue was not the size of the cake but the difference in the treatment of the players based on their gender."Feliciano is gaslighting. It's not about the size of a cake. This tournament was owned by a misogynist who sued the WTA multiple times, including for the right to pay women less. Gave female winners some KMart looking trophy every year," a fan tweeted.James Rogers@ElliottJMRFeliciano is gaslighting. It's not about the size of a cake. This tournament was owned by a misogynist who sued the WTA multiple times, including for the right to pay women less. Gave female winners some KMart looking trophy every year.19328Feliciano is gaslighting. It's not about the size of a cake. This tournament was owned by a misogynist who sued the WTA multiple times, including for the right to pay women less. Gave female winners some KMart looking trophy every year."Numerous people calling out bad schedule, sexualization of ball girls and other issues. Never seen him respond. But hey, cake is important," another user wrote.Roksanche@RoksancheNumerous people calling out bad schedule, sexualization of ball girls and other issues. Never seen him respond. But hey, cake is important 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…646I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsNumerous people calling out bad schedule, sexualization of ball girls and other issues. Never seen him respond. But hey, cake is important 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ twitter.com/feliciano_lope…"So you respond to the cake gate but when people discuss terrible scheduling, model ball girls used as decoration you are very quiet," another tweet read.Roksanche@Roksanche@feliciano_lopez So you respond to the cake gate but when people discuss terrible scheduling, model ball girls used as decoration you are very quiet.1131@feliciano_lopez So you respond to the cake gate but when people discuss terrible scheduling, model ball girls used as decoration you are very quiet.Here are some more fan reactions:always sick era@rubwehv_@feliciano_lopez let’s be real the reaction to this is about more than the cake. maybe talk about the ‘sexy’ ball girl outfits or the fact that important women’s matches have continuously been pushed back and given NB start times in favour men’s matches - and this isn’t the first year…441@feliciano_lopez let’s be real the reaction to this is about more than the cake. maybe talk about the ‘sexy’ ball girl outfits or the fact that important women’s matches have continuously been pushed back and given NB start times in favour men’s matches - and this isn’t the first year…Robespierre@brookeabeyerIf an active WTA player is saying “this is representative of the gender disparity in treatment by tournaments” then maybe there’s something to it and you should stop the knee jerk defensiveness. Sittin here acting like this is simply about a cake and not about a broader issue… twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…622I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsIf an active WTA player is saying “this is representative of the gender disparity in treatment by tournaments” then maybe there’s something to it and you should stop the knee jerk defensiveness. Sittin here acting like this is simply about a cake and not about a broader issue… twitter.com/feliciano_lope…👽👻@fedettiniYou’re a douche 🤢🤢🤢 twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…21130I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsYou’re a douche 🤢🤢🤢 twitter.com/feliciano_lope…in mourning@katharineummNot the "I cant be sexist I also gave a small cake to a different man" argument twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…151I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsNot the "I cant be sexist I also gave a small cake to a different man" argument twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Swish🔸@ZwxshThere really was no reason they couldn't have made the same effort for her, even if to just keep everyone happy.This is a multi-million euro tournament, how much of their budget does a bigger cake really cost?Just looks incredibly lazy to be honest.@vika7 twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…21130I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsThere really was no reason they couldn't have made the same effort for her, even if to just keep everyone happy.This is a multi-million euro tournament, how much of their budget does a bigger cake really cost?Just looks incredibly lazy to be honest.@vika7 twitter.com/feliciano_lope…LavanyaSingerDinesh🌺@LavanyaVocalist@vika7 Alcaraz got the same kind of cake on court last year too when he had not yet won @MutuaMadridOpen. Aryna Sabalenka is also a #MutuaMadridOpen Champion & a 3-time Grand Slam Champion (1 singles & 2 doubles). The disparity in celebrations is horrible. Don't bring Holger into this. twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…701I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxs@vika7 Alcaraz got the same kind of cake on court last year too when he had not yet won @MutuaMadridOpen. Aryna Sabalenka is also a #MutuaMadridOpen Champion & a 3-time Grand Slam Champion (1 singles & 2 doubles). The disparity in celebrations is horrible. Don't bring Holger into this. twitter.com/feliciano_lope…🙂@penkostephensOh okay my bad I didn’t know that Rune was a Madrid finalist and former Madrid champion, number 2 player in the world, a grand slam champion, and 29-4 for the year… twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…1103I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsOh okay my bad I didn’t know that Rune was a Madrid finalist and former Madrid champion, number 2 player in the world, a grand slam champion, and 29-4 for the year… twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Sarah | clay clay clay🧱@whomstissarahLoud and wrong twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…581I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsLoud and wrong twitter.com/feliciano_lope…J 🃏@gerrydefaultmeAnyway, happy retirement to you twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…18924I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsAnyway, happy retirement to you ❤️ twitter.com/feliciano_lope… https://t.co/LDRGq3JEefJess 🍵@jessica4steinHolga be in a drama even when he's left the tournament. twitter.com/feliciano_lope…Feliciano López@feliciano_lopezI’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment twitter.com/vika7/status/1…461I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final2. He was playing on centre court3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment 😜 twitter.com/vika7/status/1… https://t.co/1mEoIitXxsHolga be in a drama even when he's left the tournament. 😍 twitter.com/feliciano_lope…s :) 🪼@slaylorfritz@feliciano_lopez not buying it babe. not buying it. would love to hear what you have to say about the objectified ballgirls and the abysmal scheduling of wta matches in favor of atp ones tho 🤷‍♀️1812@feliciano_lopez not buying it babe. not buying it. would love to hear what you have to say about the objectified ballgirls and the abysmal scheduling of wta matches in favor of atp ones tho 🤷‍♀️Travelling_doc@DocTravel74560@feliciano_lopez It could have been worse, right Feliciano, you could have brought a stripper on stage for Holger, given the history of misogyny and sexism this tournament has. Let’s just say a small cake is a win232@feliciano_lopez It could have been worse, right Feliciano, you could have brought a stripper on stage for Holger, given the history of misogyny and sexism this tournament has. Let’s just say a small cake is a winThe Madrid Open 2023 finals are lockedIga Swiatek (L) and Aryna Sabalenka are Madrid Open finalistsWorld No. 1 Iga Swiatek will take on World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the women's singles final of the 2023 Madrid Open on Saturday. Swiatek has won five out of their seven meetings so far. The last time they played was at the Stuttgart Open a few days ago, where the Pole registered a straight-sets victory.Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, will square off against German lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff in the title clash on Sunday, May 7. Both have won one match each against each other. Struff beat Aslan Karatsev in the semifinals and became the first lucky loser ever to reach the finals of a Masters 1000 tournament.If Alcaraz defends his Madrid Open title and just plays one match at the Italian Open, he will replace Novak Djokovic as the World No. 1