"The reporter who asked that question should be banned"- Tennis fans react to ridiculous 'makeup' question asked to Iga Swiatek after French Open win
Tennis fans were far from impressed with a reporter who asked World No. 1 Iga Swiatek if she used makeup when going out. The Pole had just beaten Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 to win her second French Open title.
During her post-match press conference, a reporter asked Iga Swiatek a two-part question. The first was about her best shot, while the second was if she used makeup and liked to dress up before attending parties.
"One technical question and one which is not," said the reporter. "The technical is: What is your best shot? Someone says it's the forehand; someone says it's the return down-the-line backhand. What do you think? This is the first question. The second question is: Outside of the court, when you go to a party, do you use makeup? Do you like to go elegant and smart and so on? Because many players we have seen in the past, they were staying hours in front of the mirror before going on court and using the makeup. And you seem very natural like this."
Here’s a thing that World Number One and freshly crowned French Open Champion Iga Swiatek was asked in her press conference today. Presenting without comment because there are no words. https://t.co/rGCbA0Kc8k
Iga Swiatek responded to the question in the negative, adding that she didn't think makeup would change anything.
"Okay. Thank you. Well, I'm wearing a hat, so I don't have to worry about my hair," Swiatek said. "That's the most positive thing. I don't wear makeup, because I don't feel like I kind of have to, and also, I don't think that will change something. Also, it's going to come off when I use a towel."
The Pole also said that the question was "hard to answer" given that it was not in her PR brief.
"Well, that's -- wow, I don't have that in my PR brief, you know, so it's hard to answer," the World No. 1 added. "Well, I'm not using makeup like really often. I honestly just learned how to do makeup like six months ago, so that's pretty embarrassing."
Several tennis fans were annoyed with the reporter for asking such a question to the newly crowned French Open champion. Many took to Twitter to express their disgust, with one fan opining that the reporter should be banned from WTA events.
"The reporter who asked that question should be banned from WTA events," wrote the fan.
The reporter who asked that question should be banned from WTA events. twitter.com/CWhitakerSport…
https://t.co/mzjzUP2OW6 twitter.com/CWhitakerSport…
lmao you have to be freakin' kidding
THIS is the question they asked the winner of the French Open on a 35-match winning streak and at the top of her game
Stop this twitter.com/CWhitakerSport…
Can’t wait to hear Rafa’s answer to this line of questioning tomorrow!
Oh wait. 🫠 twitter.com/cwhitakersport…
One fan wondered how "tone-deaf" and "offensive" reporters had to be before they had their credentials revoked.
"So exactly how tone-deaf and offensive, on multiple occasions, do a credentialed person’s questions have to be to have their credentials suspended?" wrote the fan.
So exactly how tone-deaf and offensive, on multiple occasions, do a credentialed person’s questions have to be to have their credentials suspended? #Ubaldo twitter.com/cwhitakersport…
You're one of the only 20 people in the world that have the privilege to be in the same room as the world number 1 and Roland Garros champion to ask her a question. And this is what you come up with. Those neurons not doing their job I see twitter.com/CWhitakerSport…
An actual joke. twitter.com/CWhitakerSport…
@CWhitakerSport Journos who ask questions just to hear themselves talk need to reassess their life choices.
Another fan called for "media training for the media" and argued that younger players on tour should be told that they don't have to respond to silly questions.
"Clearly, it’s time for media training—for the media. If you can’t ask intelligent, relevant questions to a female athlete who has just won a major championship, then you should not be given a media credential. The WTA also must let younger players know they don’t need to respond," the fan tweeted.
Iga Swiatek extends win streak to 35
Iga Swiatek's victory over Coco Gauff on Saturday marked her 35th consecutive match win. The Pole has now equalled Venus Williams' record for the longest win-streak on the WTA tour since 2000.
World number #1 Iga Swiatek wins her 2nd Grand Slam title at 21yo, beating 18yo Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 in the #RolandGarros final.
-- 35 consecutive wins, ties Venus Williams with the best streak in the 2000s
-- 9-0 in finals (18-0 in sets...)
It's just incredible. https://t.co/301NvOI66D
The win in Paris also marked Swiatek's sixth successive title after victories in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome. It will be interesting to see if the World No. 1 can keep her streak going in the grasscourt season, considering it is her least successful surface.