Australian Open Organizers Accused of Sexism Against Women
Controversy erupted in Melbourne as Australian Open organizers suggested to defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka the possibility of moving her quarter-final match to a smaller court due to scheduling chaos. This proposal arose after two previous matches on the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena extended beyond three hours each, raising concerns about a late-night finish.
However, both Sabalenka and her opponent, Barbora Krejcikova, declined to relocate from Rod Laver Arena to the 7,500-seat Margaret Court Arena. The scheduling complications sparked a sexism debate during Eurosport’s coverage, with pundits Tim Henman and John McEnroe expressing contrasting views.
Henman questioned why the women were asked to move when they were not the last match, while McEnroe suggested that it was to avoid potential dissatisfaction from fans if the women’s match ended quickly while being played on the main court.
Sabalenka, however, alleviated scheduling concerns by defeating Krejcikova in straight sets within 71 minutes. The late-night schedule persisted, with the match between Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev starting at 10.42 pm.
Taylor Fritz, who played earlier and lost to Novak Djokovic, expressed empathy for Sinner and Rublev, emphasizing the challenges players face in managing post-match recovery routines. Fritz highlighted the disruption caused when matches extend into the early hours, affecting players’ sleep schedules.
Sabalenka explained that tournament organizers sought the players’ opinions on moving, and they decided to wait based on the progress of her match. She believed that Sinner and Rublev were also asked about the possibility of moving to Margaret Court Arena, which would have required refunds for night-session ticket holders, as per the terms and conditions promising at least two matches.
