The Mutua Madrid Open ignored a valued tennis tradition and muted the women's doubles champions and finalists.
Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia created a mic drop moment winning the Mutua Madrid Open doubles title.
The pair never got the microphone to thank their families and teams.
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Trashing a time-honored tradition of tournament champions and finalists speaking after finals, Madrid muted the women's doubles finalists though the men's doubles champions and finalists were permitted to speak.
In the aftermath of Azarenka and Haddad Maia defeating Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-4, the four women were presented their trophies but not given the opportunity to speak.
Watch around the 11:20 mark of the video above to see the four women standing on the podium together waiting for the opportunity to speak while music plays over the sound system. The players pose for a trophy shot then leave the podium as music continues to play.
Former world No. 1 Azarenka pointed out Madrid's double standard on social media.
"Hard to explain to [son] Leo that mommy isn’t able to say hello to him at the trophy ceremony," Azarenka posted on Twitter.
Hard to explain to Leo that mommy isn’t able to say hello to him at the trophy ceremony
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 7, 2023
I would like to say thank you to all the fans for coming out and supporting us! Thank you to Bia for an incredible week! Our first title together! Congrats to @JLPegula and @CocoGauff for the final and your teams! Thank you to all the people behind the scenes for working hard!
I…— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 7, 2023
Gauff took to Twitter to thank partner Pegula, their families and teams and the tournament staffers and ball kids essentially giving her runner-up speech on social media.
Wasn’t given the chance to speak after the final today:( But thank you to the fans for supporting us and women’s tennis this week! Thanks @JLPegula for always keeping it fun on the court and hitting unreal clutch shots hahahaha Lastly, big congratulations Vika and Bia 🎉💗
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) May 7, 2023
also thanks to my team and Jess’s team of course! Also for the ball kids, tournament staff, and everyone else who works hard behind the scenes. Twitter format doesn’t allow me to say everything I would’ve said during the speech if we had one. But just wanted to say I ‘m thankful
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) May 7, 2023
It was the latest in a series of gaffes that drew criticism of tournament organizers, who presented Madrid women's champion Aryna Sabalenka with a significantly smaller birthday cake than Madrid men's champion and Spanish hero Carlos Alcaraz, who celebrated his 20th birthday on May 5th.
Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment https://t.co/x89RytI0zV
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 5, 2023
In a rare dig at a tournament during the trophy presentation, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek referenced her repeated late-night starts in Madrid and disappointment with that arduous schedule.
"It's a very nice city, although it's not much fun to play until 1 a.m.," Swiatek said after bowing to Aryna Sabalenka in a fantastic three-set final. "But I'm happy to have overcome that experience and made it all the way to the final, so thank you for the support and energy, see you next year."
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open FacebookTitle: Madrid Mutes Women’s Doubles Ceremony
Sourced From: www.tennisnow.com/Blogs/NET-POSTS/May-2023/Madrid-Mutes-Women-s-Doubles-Ceremony.aspx
Published Date: Mon, 08 May 2023 11:52:32 GMT
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