Sports commentator blasted for asking female tennis stars to 'give us a twirl'
AN Australian sports commentator has been blasted for asking two top women tennis players to twirl in front of a crowd during an interview.
Tennis player Eugenie Bouchard asked to 'twirl' by commentator
Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard looked stunned today when Ian Cohen asked her to "give us a twirl" after beating Kiki Bertens in the second of the Australian Open.
In the interview with the Channel 7 pundit, Bouchard replied to his request saying: "A twirl, like a pirouette? Here you go."
She later said: "It was very unexpected. I mean, yeah, I don't know. An old guy asking you to twirl, it was funny."
Tennis fans took to Twitter to vent their outrage.
Meagan Fitzpatrick said: "Imagine if Roger Federer was asked to do what Eugenie Bouchard was asked to do on court...a twirl? Seriously?"
Graham Wynn posted: "Disgraceful and sexist interviewing by @Channel7"
Cashelle Dunn tweeted: "Appalled @Channel7 tennis commentator's unprofessionalism and #sexist attitude."
Eugenie Bouchard was asked to 'give us a twirl'
I wouldn't ask Rafa (Nadal) or Roger (Federer) to twirl
Bridie Jenner added: "Page 3 is back and a top female tennis player was asked to 'give us a twirl'. We are in 2015 aren't we?"
Matt Lake described the moment as "skin-crawling".
World number one Serena Williams was also asked to do a twirl.
Williams, who enjoyed a second-round win over Vera Zvonareva, appeared unimpressed with the request.
She said: "A commentator asked me to twirl. I wouldn't ask Rafa (Nadal) or Roger (Federer) to twirl."
However, she refused to openly comment on accusations of sexism.
Serena Williams was unimpressed by the request
She said: "Whether it's sexist or not, I don't know. I can't answer that."
The five-times Wimbledon champion continued: "I didn't really want to twirl because I was just like, you know, I don't need all the extra attention. But, yeah, it was fine.
"I don't think and look that deep into it."
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Channel 7 said: "The interview, which didn’t air on Channel 7 or 7TWO, was in this instance conducted by a commentator who works for the host broadcaster, Tennis Australia.
"The host broadcaster provides match coverage and some commentary and interviews, which is seen on our live digital streaming service."