On Thursday, the Madrid Open apologized for not letting the women’s doubles competitors speak at the awards ceremony after last weekend’s final.
After Sunday’s final, winners Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia and losing finalists Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were strangely not allowed to speak to spectators.
Players and social media users blasted the situation.
Tournament CEO Gerard Tsobanian declared it would never happen again four days later.
On the tournament’s Twitter account, Tsobanian apologized to players and supporters who expected more from the Madrid Open.
“Not allowing our women’s doubles finalists to speak to fans after the match was unacceptable.”
Gauff regretted not being able to thank fans after the final.
Pegula said that was unheard of.
“Madrid was disappointing,” Pegula added. Did I believe we couldn’t talk? No. Never heard of that before. I don’t know what century everyone made that decision.”
Tsobanian claimed the event apologized individually to all four players and was “working intensely, with the WTA, to revise our protocols.”
“We made a mistake,” he remarked.
Tsobanian did not highlight further criticisms.
Fans on social media questioned the size of the tournament’s top players’ birthday cakes and the ballgirls’ short skirts and little tops in the big men’s matches.
After his semifinal win on Friday, home favorite and title defense Carlos Alcaraz received a huge cake, while Aryna Sabalenka, the women’s winner, received a smaller cake.
During the tournament, the ATP-WTA and its primary sponsor ran a Spanish TV spot decrying gender violence against women, including many of the sport’s best players.
