Further information continues to filter in after the Madrid Open fiasco surrounding the women's doubles final between Victoria Azarenka/Beatriz Haddad-Maia and Jessica Pegula/Coco Gauff.
Both were not allowed to give speeches post match and despite outrage, no explanation has been forthcoming either.
This has meant that some have theorized that Azarenka, in particular, wasn't allowed due to criticizing the tournament days prior amid the Sabalenka-Alcaraz cake gate and that they didn't want to be embarrassed.
James Gray, a prominent journalist for iNews took to Twitter to say that he had asked for explanations regarding the snub but wasn't given one.
While Talking Tennis who provided post-match press conferences quote tweeted to say they were rejected for interviews.
I have asked @MutuaMadridOpen for an explanation for this and have not been provided with one. Which means at present the idea that they were scared of Azarenka embarrassing them so they gagged her is the most credible one. Absolutely scandalous.
This is bizarre. The women's doubles presentation went off without anyone interviewing either team. No winning speech, no losing speech. Both men's doubles teams addressed the crowd, winners and losers.
I asked for interviews, and / or a press conference… was rejected… but there is a sense that players, especially losers, don’t want to do them… finally there is a factor, where officials are afraid of ‘burdening’ the players
I have asked @MutuaMadridOpen for an explanation for this and have not been provided with one. Which means at present the idea that they were scared of Azarenka embarrassing them so they gagged her is the most credible one. Absolutely scandalous.
