Not impressed by ESPN showing Sabalenka smashing her racquet in the gym after last year’s loss in the final… unnecessary, insensitive and as for timing? … yikes
Paul McNamee slams ESPN for airing old Aryna Sabalenka footage
ATPTuesday, 10 September 2024 at 10:05
Former doubles world number one Paul McNamee has lambasted
ESPN for showing an old footage of Belarus’ tennis star Aryna Sabalenka after
her recent triumph at the US Open. The 26-year-old is already regarded as one
of the best players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category
along with Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka recently participated in the US Open, where she won
the title after beating America’s Jessica Pegula in the final in straight sets
with a score of 7-5, 7-5. After the match, American broadcaster ESPN showed the footage of the Minsk-born star after the 2023 final of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year, where she went back to the locker room and took her anger out on her racket after losing to America’s Coco Gauff.
Read also
Showing that footage did not go down well with the former doubles
world number one McNamee, who, in a post on his official account on the social
media platform X — previously known as Twitter — lambasted ESPN for showing
that. “Not impressed by ESPN showing Sabalenka smashing her racquet in the gym
after last year’s loss in the final… unnecessary, insensitive and as for
timing? … yikes,” he wrote.
For Sabalenka, the victory was a special one as it was her
third Grand Slam title in her career and the first-ever in New York. Before
that, she won the Australian Open on two occasions. Talking after the match, Sabalenka
stated that she was ‘speechless’ and also claimed that the triumph is a very ‘special’
one for her. "I'm speechless,” she said. “I remember all the tough losses
here. They say you're going to see the reason later. I see the reason right
now. That's why it's very special, because no matter what, every time I was
coming back stronger and I was learning. I never gave up on this dream.
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
- They can go down together!mandoist15-09-2024
