The Madrid Open birthday cake controversy took a new turn as the tournament director provided clarification.
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, both ranked second on their respective tennis tours and sharing a birthday on May 5th, found themselves at the center of a birthday cake controversy during the 2023 Madrid Open.
The organizers planned to give each athlete a birthday cake as they were both competing in the competition while also celebrating their birthdays. Images that showed that the cake provided to Alcaraz was substantially bigger than the one offered to Sabalenka caused an unanticipated uproar.
This disparity in cake size sparked a heated discussion online, with many connecting it to the existing debate on prize money differences between the men's and women's tennis tours. It's worth noting, though, that the Madrid Open is one of the tournaments that offer equal prize money to all players, regardless of gender.
The controversy escalated when fellow WTA players started noticing it, and Bianca Andreescu retweeted the image of Sabalenka's cake with a caption stating: "That doesn't look right." Victoria Azarenka, another WTA player, and Sabalenka's compatriot, also commented on the situation, suggesting that the disparity in cake size was indicative of unequal treatment, stating: "Couldn’t be more accurate on the treatment".
Feliciano Lopez, the tournament director of the Madrid Open, intervened in reaction to the escalating controversy to provide clarification. Lopez claimed that the circumstances surrounding the presentation were the main causes of the disparity in cake sizes.
Alcaraz had just won a match to reach the final and was playing on the tournament's center court. Additionally, the tournament takes place in Spain, where Alcaraz is considered a major emerging talent since the likes of Rafael Nadal.
Lopez also mentioned that another player, Holger Rune, received a similarly sized cake as Sabalenka, emphasizing that the decision was not based on gender. He expressed surprise at the reactions to the cake situation, considering it a gesture of celebration rather than an act of discrimination.
"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."
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