Greg Rusedski said female players were ‘louder than a 747’ aeroplane which ‘turned off viewers’
Having been seeded fourth in the world and named Sports Personality of the Year, he is a hero of British tennis.
But Greg Rusedski has found himself at the centre of a sexism row, after claiming he needed earplugs during a women’s match due to the ‘grunting’.
The 44-year-old was watching Spain’s Garbine Muguruza play Russia’s Maria Sharapova in the French Open quarter-final on Wednesday afternoon, when he said the players were ‘louder than a 747’ aeroplane which ‘turned off viewers’.
Rusedski, once ranked number one in Britain, was faced with a barrage of criticism from his 30,000 Twitter followers who accused him of double standards. Sparking the debate, the former BBC pundit wrote: ‘Does anyone have any earplugs for these ladies’ matches?
‘Why do they not grunt in practice but in matches, and especially big matches, it is louder than a 747?’
One fan wrote in response: ‘So do a lot of the guys. You think a blanket ban for both the men’s and women’s game is needed?’
But Canadian-born Rusedski, who became a British player in 1995, responded: ‘Both men and women should not be allowed too. The problem I have with the grunt is it actually continues when the opponent is hitting the ball, which is wrong. It also turns off viewers.’
Other fans said he unfairly singled out women. One wrote: ‘Hey Greg have you measured the decibel of Rafael Nadal, the current men’s number 1 player when he plays? Why don’t you try holding men and women to the same standard?’
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza is congratulated by Russia’s Maria Sharapova after winning their women’s singles quarter-final match at the French Open
Another said: ‘Get over it Greg, this is 2018, not 2000.’
A third said: ‘Blame the microphones set around the court, they amplify it on TV, but when you’re there, you hardly hear it. It’s not just the ladies matches either!’
But some fans agreed with the star, with one commenting: ‘Ruins the sport for me – whilst the men also grunt it is just that signifying extra effort, so not on every hit, the women give out a forced prolonged screech on every point – can’t hear the ball on bat as a result. Sounds even worse on the radio.’
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza returns a shot against Russia’s Maria Sharapova during their quarterfinal match
Another said: ‘It’s the main reason I don’t watch women’s tennis – can’t abide all that screeching.’
A Women’s Equality Party spokesman suggested his fans should ‘mute or unfollow’ the tennis star after his comments.
A spokesman for father-of-two Rusedski – whose high-point was reaching the US Open men’s singles final in 1997 – last night refused to comment.