US Open officials have been slammed as sexist after a chair umpire hit French tennis player Alize Cornet with a code violation because she took her shirt off briefly during a heat break.
Cornet was captured on video at the tournament in New York Tuesday when she walked back onto the court for her match against Swedish player Johanna Larsson. Cornet realized she accidentally put her sports top on backwards.
She quickly pulled her shirt up then turned away from the camera to place the top on the correct way.
Cornet exposed her black sports bra during the quick change, which lasted about 10 seconds.
After the incident, a chair umpire punished Cornet with a code violation.
Furious Twitter users took to social media to express their disappointment and disgust as they criticized the violation as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘sexist’.
Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray said in a viral tweet: ‘Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break. Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation.
‘Unsportsmanlike conduct….. but the men can change shirts on court.’
Former Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua responded to Murray’s tweet writing: ‘Ridiculous’.
And American tennis player Bethanie MattekSands added in the comments section: ‘that’s weak!’
Twitter user Alissa Warren also said: ‘Busted for code violation #alizecornet took 10 sec to turn top right way but #novacdjokovic can sit for minutes half-naked. Same comp.
‘Days after @serenawilliams slammed for disrespecting tennis because she wore a #catsuit. Not fair. Not right. Tell your daughters.’
Another woman, Jane-Elise Cherry, added: ‘So, hold on… Novak can take his shirt off because of extreme heat & that’s ok.
‘But Alize #Cornet takes a minute to turn her shirt around (with a bra on, BTW), & we’re all losing our minds?!?! Right#USOpen #everydaysexism #youseemoreatthebeach’
Temperatures soared above 90-degrees Fahrenheit at the tournament, which resulted in a heat policy being implemented.
The United States Tennis Association implemented a 10-minute heat break policy due to scorching temperatures.
Female players were granted heat breaks between the second and third set, and male players, the third and fourth set.