The Madrid Tennis Championship apologizes for the “gagging ban” on women
Madrid Tennis Championships organizers have offered “sincere apologies” for the much-discussed “ban on restraint” around the women’s doubles final. After the final battle, the finalists, unlike the men, were not given the opportunity to address the audience. Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maya defeated American couple Jessica Pegula and Corey Gauff 6-1, 6-4 in the final.
“It was unacceptable that we did not give the women’s doubles finalists the opportunity to address their fans at the end of the match. We apologized directly to the players,” tournament director Gerard Tsopanian said. “We made a mistake and this will not happen again.” The tournament also says it will work to improve protocols in collaboration with the WTA.
The tennis players were very disappointed that they were not allowed to address the crowd after the final. “I really felt like something was going on,” Pegula said. “Did you think we weren’t allowed to talk? No, I’ve never heard that in my entire life. I don’t know what century the people who made that decision live in.”
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