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Date Published: 09/05/2023

Madrid Open accused of sexist violence over ball girl outfits

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The skimpy outfits were toned down following several complaints about the Spanish tennis event

Madrid Open accused of sexist violence over ball girl outfits

The Madrid Open, held in the Spanish capital between April 25 and May 7, has become embroiled in a gender-based row after the ball girls appeared on the opening day clad in high stockings, pleated miniskirts and cropped tops. Their male counterparts, on the other hand, were allowed to wear the standard t-shirt and shorts.

But there was a dramatic wardrobe change for the men’s singles final after Spain’s Association for Women in Professional Sport lodged a complaint.

Spokesperson for the association Pilar Calvo said: “It’s a way of feminising girls with respect to boys who don’t dress in the same way.

“Ultimately, it's a form of sexist violence that is so widespread that people don't even notice it.”

Spain’s Secretary of State for Equality, Soledad Murillo, also criticised the outfits, saying that the uniforms "fomented clear discrimination towards women.”

Rather ironically, the tournament itself and its sponsor Mutua Madrilena have launched a campaign against gender violence, a message that has been sadly missed due to the sexualised appearance of the ball girls, according to Calvo.

Following the controversy, the skimpy skirts were traded in for baggy, knee-length shorts for the final against Carlos Alcaraz and Jan-Lennard Struff.

In other news: Spain approves salary increase of 4 per cent

Images: @MutuaMadridOpen

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