"A tournament with a sexist history of disrespecting the WTA" - Tennis fans angered as Coco Gauff admits being denied chance to speak at Madrid Open

The tennis community is enraged at the 2023 Madrid Open organizers in the wake of Coco Gauff revealing that the women’s doubles finalists were not allowed to give speeches during the award ceremony. Some fans have commented that the Madrid tournament has a history of being misogynistic and unfair to the WTA.

Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Maia Hadid defeated Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the women’s doubles final to lift the title. However, none of the players were given the chance to speak at the trophy presentation ceremony.

The tournament has already been criticized for presenting Aryna Sabalenka with a smaller birthday cake than the one for Carlos Alcaraz. It has also been called out for the late scheduling of matches, including by Iga Swiatek, and for the outfits of the ball girls used for the big matches in the men’s draw.

A few hours after the doubles final, Gauff tweeted the speech she was denied and confirmed that she was not allowed to speak at the ceremony. The tweet prompted many tennis fans to criticize Madrid Open director Feliciano Lopez, with many saying he needs to be fired.

“I’m really sorry you’re on the receiving end of a tournament with a longstanding sexist history of disrespecting and making a joke of the WTA. you’re a star no matter what and we love u!!” wrote one fan.

“I cannot believe that even after the cake, scheduling, & ball girl fiascos, @feliciano_lopez would continue to double, triple, & quadruple down on his misogyny. It’s disgusting that a Masters 1000 tournament in 2023 is still being run like this,” wrote another.

Others called the tournament sexist and misogynistic and accused it of being biased against the WTA.

Coco Gauff to work with Serena Williams’ former coach

Coco Gauff to work with Serena Williams’ former coach

American veteran coach Rick Macci wants to help Coco Gauff improve the one weakness she has in her game - the forehand. Gauff crashed out of the 2023 Madrid Open singles draw, losing 3-6, 0-6 to home favorite Paula Badosa in the third round, after which Badosa revealed she targeted Gauff’s forehand.

Several tennis analysts and commentators have also noted the problem with that shot. In the ‘Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe’ podcast, McEnroe revealed that Rick Macci had been in touch with Gauff’s father. He also revealed that Macci believes Gauff can win multiple Major titles if he works with her for an extended period.