Madrid Open admit silencing women’s doubles finalists was ‘a mistake’

Madrid Open organisers have apologised for not allowing the women’s doubles finalists to speak on court after Sunday’s match.

It is understood the Women’s Tennis Association is investigating the various issues raised regarding the treatment of its players at La Caja Mágica last week, and the tournament’s chief executive, Gerard Tsobanian, has now issued a public apology.

The convention is for the runners-up and winners to address the crowd after finals, and the champions, Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia, and the beaten finalists, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, were shocked to be denied the opportunity.

Tsobanian wrote on Twitter: “We sincerely apologise to all the players and fans who expect more of the Mutua Madrid Open tournament. Not giving our women’s doubles finalists the chance to address their fans at the end of the match was unacceptable and we have apologised directly to Victoria, Beatriz, Coco and Jessica.

“We are working internally and with the WTA to review our protocols and are committed to improving our process moving forward. We made a mistake and this will not ever happen again.”

There was also criticism of the revealing outfits worn by model ball girls on the main court as well as the way the tournament celebrated the birthday of the male champion, Carlos Alcaraz, compared with that of the women’s singles winner, Aryna Sabalenka. They share a birthday on 5 May but, while Alcaraz was presented with a huge cake on court after his semi-final, Sabalenka, who was not playing that day, was given a much more modest confection backstage.

It is not the first time the Madrid Open, which is now owned by the leading agency IMG, has been accused of favouring men over women, and Azarenka tweeted in response