A series of coincidences have turned into a poisoned dart against the organization of the Masters 1000 in Madrid. The tournament was criticized by fans and by the Belarusian Azarenka for allegedly unequal or discriminatory treatment towards the also Belarusian Sabalenka by giving her a smaller cake than Carlos Alcaraz on her birthday.
Sabalenka is number 2 in the WTA and will play the final of the tournament this Saturday against Iga Swiatek. Alcaraz is number 2 in the ATP and will play the final against Struff on Sunday. They both had birthdays yesterday May 5th. She 25, he 20. The organization gave her a cake after training. He was brought a giant cake to center court after beating Coric.
The differential treatment was a source of criticism for many fans. But the Belarusian Azarenka also saw discrimination in what happened and commented on the situation on her social networks. “The deal couldn't be more different,” she lamented.
The controversy took hold after the end of the Alcaraz match and forced Feliciano López, director of the Mutua Madrid Open, to issue a statement on social networks. "I'm surprised by the reaction after the gesture. 1. Carlos had just won his match and reached the final. 2. He was playing on center court. 3. The tournament is being played in Spain, even though it's an international event "Wrote the Toledo in response. Feli has also published a photograph in which it is seen how the tournament gives another birthday cake to Holger Rune, who turned twenty last Saturday, with a size similar to Sabalenka's.
