Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news
It may only be the second round, but the Australian Open has already been marred by another sexism row after a male TV presenter asked women’s world No 7 Eugenie Bouchard to “give us a twirl” following victory on court.
Bouchard had just beaten the Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens in a commanding performance 6-0, 6-3 – but rather than address that topic, Channel 7 interviewer Ian Cohen made the bizarre request and asked whether Bouchard could “tell us about [her] outfit”.
“A twirl?” the 20-year-old Canadian responded with disbelief, to which Cohen explained: “A twirl – like a pirouette.”
Djokovic and Williams wins overshadowed by sexism storm
Bouchard obliged before awkwardly burying her head in her hands – and later described the request as “very unexpected”.
Bouchard looked shocked to be asked to do a twirl after her 6-0, 6-3 victory over Kiki Bertens After breaking into the top 10 for the first time last year, Bouchard is regarded as one of the future stars of the sport. And after describing how she beat Bertens by “trying to get into an aggressive position as much as possible” in the post-match press conference, she was asked about being made to twirl on court. “I don’t know, an old guy asking you to twirl. It was funny,” she said.
Serena Williams was also asked to twirl by Cohen following her first-round win on Tuesday, and though she obliged she admitted on Thursday that she “didn't really want to”.
The 20-year-old Canadian had to check she hadn't misheard Channel 7's Ian Cohen's request “I wouldn't ask Rafa or Roger to twirl,” Williams said when the Bouchard incident was brought up on Thursday.
“I didn't really want to twirl because I was just like, you know, I don't need all the extra attention,” she added.
But the world No 1, who will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the third round, said she preferred not to comment on whether the twirl request was sexist.
“Life is far too short to focus on that,” she said. “Whether I twirl or not, it's not the end of the world.”
Bouchard was also at the centre of a sexism row at last year's Australian Open after she became the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam in semi-final in 30 years.
Australian Open 2015 in picturesShow all 54 1 /54Australian Open 2015 in pictures Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andy Murray Andy Murray looks on as Novak Djokovic holds the trophy
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andy Murray Novak Djokovic lifts his trophy
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andy Murray Andy Murray ponders what went wrong after the defeat
GETTY IMAGES
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Maria Sharapova Serena Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Maria Sharapova Maria Sharapova was unable to cope with Serena Williams' power
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Maria Sharapova Serena Williams celebrates a point in her Australian Open victory over Maria Sharapova
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Stan Wawrinka Novak Djokovic consoles Stan Wawrinka after the match
GETTY IMAGES
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Tomas Berdych Andy Murray reaches the final of the Australian Open after beating Tomas Berdych in another impressive display, but the match was marred by ill feeling
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Tomas Berdych Tomas Berdych said something during the match which clearly angered Murray
AP
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Tomas Berdych Andy Murray unleashes a forehand during his impressive victory over Tomas Berdych
Reuters
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Milos Raonic Novak Djokovic (L) speaks with Canada's Milos Raonic after victory
GETTY IMAGES
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Nick Kyrgios Kim Sears watches on as her fiancé Andy Murray takes on Nick Kyrgios
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Nick Kyrgios Andy Murray celebrates a point against Nick Kyrgios
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Nick Kyrgios Andy Murray celebrates the victory over Nick Kyrgios in the Australian Open quarter-finals
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Nick Kyrgios Nick Kyrgios appeals a point during his quarter-final defeat to Andy Murray
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Maria Sharapova DEF Eugenie Bouchard Eugenie Bouchard walks off the court holding back the tears after her Australian Open exit
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Maria Sharapova DEF Eugenie Bouchard Maria Sharapova celebrates victory over Eugenie Bouchard in the Australian Open quarter-finals
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Maria Sharapova DEF Eugenie Bouchard Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard shake hands after their Australian Open quarter-final clash
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Tomas Berdych DEF Rafael Nadal Tomas Berdych shakes hands with Rafael Nadal after knocking the Spaniard out of the Australian Open
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Tomas Berdych DEF Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal suffered a straight-sets defeat to Tomas Berdych
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Tomas Berdych DEF Rafael Nadal Tomas Berdych celebrates his victory over Rafael Nadal
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Stan Wawrinka DEF Guillermo Garcia Lopez Stan Wawrinka signs autographs for fans after seeing off Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Stan Wawrinka DEF Guillermo Garcia Lopez Stan Wawrinka came through his fourth round match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to reach the quarter-finals
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Stan Wawrinka DEF Guillermo Garcia Lopez Guillermo Garcia-Lopez was unable to halt Wawrinka despite a third-set fightback
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Garbine Muguruza Serena Williams recovered from a set down to beat Garbine Muguruza
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Garbine Muguruza Serena Williams recovered from a set down to beat Garbine Muguruza
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Dominika Cibulkova DEF Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka was knocked out by Dominika Cibulkova
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Dominika Cibulkova DEF Victoria Azarenka Dominika Cibulkova shocked Victoria Azarenka to reach the quarter-finals
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Joao Sousa Andy Murray celebrates his third round victory over Joao Sousa
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Joao Sousa Sousa was unable to trouble Murray as he lost in straight sets
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Joao Sousa Murray will face Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Joao Sousa Kim Sears can barely watch on as Murray battles Sousa
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Eugenie Bouchard DEF Caroline Garcia Bouchard waves to the crowd following her victory over Caroline Garcia
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Eugenie Bouchard DEF Caroline Garcia Eugenie Bouchard beat Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-0 to move into the fourth round
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Eugenie Bouchard DEF Caroline Garcia Caroline Garcia was unable to stop Bouchard as she went down in straight sets
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andreas Seppi DEF Roger Federer Roger Federer shakes hands with Andreas Seppi after his third round elimination at the Australian Open
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andreas Seppi DEF Roger Federer Andreas Seppi celebrates his victory over Roger Federer
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andreas Seppi DEF Roger Federer Roger Federer reacts to defeat against Andreas Seppi
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Serena Williams DEF Vera Zvonareva Serena Williams celebrates winning a point against Vera Zvonareva
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Eugenie Bouchard DEF Kiki Bertens Eugenie Bouchard was asked to 'do a twirl' after her win over Kiki Bertens
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Stanislas Wawrinka DEF Marius Copil Stan Wawrinka beat Marius Copil to progress to the third round
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andrey Kuznetsov Novak Djokovic powered past the challenge of Andrey Kuznetsov
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andrey Kuznetsov Novak Djokovic celebrates his straight-sets victory over Andrey Kuznetsov
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Novak Djokovic DEF Andrey Kuznetsov Kuznetsov couldn't cope with Djokovic in the opening two sets as the Serbian asserted his dominance
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Day 1 Australian fans cheer on during the first round match between Nick Kyrgios of Australia and Federico Delbonis of Argentina
GETTY IMAGES
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Lucie Hradecka DEF Ana Ivanovic Lucie Hradecka stunned Ana Ivanovic with a 6-1 3-6 2-6 victory
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Lucie Hradecka DEF Ana Ivanovic Ivanovic screams out in anger after her defeat to Hradecka
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Lucie Hradecka DEF Ana Ivanovic Ana Ivanovic slides on the Rod Lever Arena court surface during her surprise defeat to Hradecka
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Rafael Nadal DEF Mikhail Youzhny Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Mikhail Youzhny after his first round victory
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Rafael Nadal DEF Mikhail Youzhny Nadal celebrates after his first round victory
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Rafael Nadal DEF Mikhail Youzhny Nadal needed just 1 hour and 49 minutes to defeat Youzhny and move into the second round
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Yuri Bhambri Andy Murray beat Yuri Bhambri in the first round 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Yuri Bhambri Andy Murray and Yuri Bhambri shake hands after the former's first round victory
Getty Images
Australian Open 2015 in pictures Andy Murray DEF Yuri Bhambri Murray's first round victory wasn't his most convincing victory of his career
Getty Images
Interviewed on court, a female reporter said: “You're getting a lot of fans here, a lot of them male. They want to know: if you could date anyone in the world of sport, of movies - I'm sorry they asked me to say this - who would you date?”
Head in hands again and blushing, the then-19-year-old Bouchard responded: “Justin Bieber.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies