Ironic that it's named after a powerful, extraordinary woman yet is openly discriminating against female players: Denis Shapovalov hits out at Queen's Club for not allowing women to train at practice courts
Denis Shapovalov has sensationally accused the Queen's Club in London of sexist behavior towards female players, coming in light of the private club not allowing women to train at the ground alongside their male counterparts.
The Canadian is at the club this week to participate in the ATP 500 Queen's Club Championships, where he was accompanied by his girlfriend Mirjam Bjorklund. Bjroklund, ranked World No. 124 on the WTA Tour, is also participating in a tennis tournament in Britain this week -- at the ITF Great Britain 10A.
This is where it's speculated that the aforementioned conflict arose, with the club denying the Swede permission to practice alongside Shapovalov, considering that the request comes in the midst of a tournament going on.
Ironic that @TheQueensClub is named after a powerful, extraordinary woman yet is openly discriminating against professional female tennis players by not allowing them to train at the club when they need to prepare for @Wimbledon. Time to review this policy #tennis #genderequality
The World No. 15 took to social media to lambast the tournament organizers for their decision, remarking that it was ironic that a club named after a "powerful" and "extraordinary" woman was resorting to such discriminatory behavior. For those unaware, the Queen's Club is named after Queen Victoria, the second-longest reigning monarch in British history and the first patron of the club.
The 23-year-old was of the opinion that not allowing women to practice at the club's training grounds this close to Wimbledon was particularly unfair, since it would mess with their preparation for the crown jewel of the tennis calendar.
Denis Shapovalov, who is still at the Queen's playing the doubles draw, slams the Club for not allowing WTA players to practice on site.
His girlfriend Mirjam Bjorklund plays the Wimbledon qualifying next week... https://t.co/bVqasLGich
Denis Shapovalov further hoped that such incidents would not happen in the future and that the club could make amends to its policy soon, lest it get caught on the wrong side of history.
"Ironic that the Queen's Club is named after a powerful, extraordinary woman yet is openly discriminating against professional female tennis players by not allowing them to train at the club when they need to prepare for Wimbledon," Shapovalov wrote. "Time to review this policy."
Denis Shapovalov's singles stint at Queen's Club comes to early end but he has reached the semifinals in doubles
On the grasscourt of the Queen's Club Championships, Denis Shapovalov has had contrasting fortunes. In singles, the sixth seed crashed out in the very first round, losing to Tommy Paul unexpectedly in three sets.
Denis Shapovalov's disappointing grass-court season suffers another blow as the World No. 15 falls 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Tommy Paul in the first round at the Queen's Club.
Two matches, two losses so far. And he's dropping 720 points from Wimbledon semi-finals in a few weeks...
In doubles, however, the 23-year-old has managed to reach the semifinals partnering up with Rohan Bopanna. The Indian-Canadian pair defeated Diego Schwartzman and Pedro Martinez in the first round, followed by a victory over the all-Columbian pairing of Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal in the quarterfinals.
News Flash: Star duo Rohan Bopanna & Denis Shapovalov upset former Wimbledon Champion duo Cabal & Farah 6-3, 6-4 to storm into Semis of prestigious Queen's Club Championship. https://t.co/mtajtDGLVS
Up next, the duo will take on Harri Heliovaara and Lloyd Glasspool later today for a spot in the final. A win against the Finnish-British pair would pit Shapovalov and Bopanna against second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the summit clash.