The difference in treatment between the ATP and WTA players has garnered a lot of attention on social media.  However, fans are still angry about last year’s Madrid Open tournament director for distinctly showing the discrepancy in behavior between a male and a female athlete. People who witnessed the tournament dedicatedly knew how Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka‘s birthday clashed on the 5th of May. However, the treatment that these two tennis players received showed an unbelievable side of the real tennis world. Not just that, but fans believe such mistreatments might return this year too.

Last year when the 5th of May arrived, Madrid Open’s director Feliciano Lopez offered cakes to both players. However, the online tennis community went mad when they spotted that Sabalenka’s cake size was much smaller than Alcaraz’s. This discrimination for the Belarusian Australian Open winner fueled her fans’ disappointment.

The tennis fraternity didn’t stop there and spoke against Feliciano Lopez’s problematic policies. Last year, when Azarenka and Haddad defeated Pegula and Gauff, the finalists were not allowed to make their presentation. A reliable source brought that fact back to the peers and wrote-“It’s absolutely insane when u think back how Madrid didn’t allow the women doubles finalist to speak after their match like Feliciano didn’t get enough lashings for that & pretty match no consequences for anybody…”

Another demanded that the WTA/ ITA should have gone the legal route and slapped a fine.

Justifying the scenario, Lopez brought Rune’s reference who also had a birthday on April 29th. Feliciano Lopez said- “I’m surprised by this reaction after this gesture! 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final, 2. He was playing on centre court. 3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event. PS: I hope Rune wasn’t also upset by his treatment.” 

Nevertheless, fans were disappointed about the Madrid Open committee’s mismanagement. They thoroughly bashed the tour’s director and expressed their grievances.

Disappointed fans call Feliciano Lopez “trash” and keep no positive hope from him this time

Since Alcaraz and Sabalenka both will be participating in the Madrid Open, their birthdays will clash again. However, fans are not convinced that Lopez will rectify his faults this time. They mentioned how the tour director already kept men’s qualifying matches on the center court.

Another fan directly expressed their disbelief over Lopez acknowledging his management this time.

Disappointed fans wished that Lopez was fined for this silly discrimination between two talented players.

The majority of the people believed that Feliciano Lopez was “trash.”

Nevertheless, people assured that they haven’t forgotten this mistreatment of tour committee members.

With the Madrid Open coming up soon and the May 5th here in less than two weeks, the organizers still have time to rectify last year’s mistakes. But the tennis community will not be holding its breath to expect a positive change.