mobile app bar

Chris Evert Concedes After Ons Jabeur Leads Backlash Over Her Karolina Muchova Remarks

Rishika Singh
Published

Chris Evert Concedes After Ons Jabeur Leads Backlash Over Her Karolina Muchova Remarks

In a surprising twist, tennis legend Chris Evert found herself on the receiving end of criticism after making an interesting remark during her commentary on Karolína Muchová’s US Open 2024 clash against Naomi Osaka.

Evert, who has long been a champion for fighting for women’s rights in tennis, faced backlash after she claimed that Muchová “plays like a guy” because of the power in her shots. The comment, intended as a good-natured compliment, didn’t sit well with many, including Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.

Jabeur didn’t hold back, taking to X to call out the stereotyping based on gender.


Jabeur’s response quickly went viral. She gained support from fans who agreed that it was time to stop comparing female athletes to their male counterparts.

The backlash was swift, and it wasn’t long before Evert issued an apology. The American legend acknowledged that the manner in which she did that commentary piece at the time, came out wrong and clarified that there was no harm intended in her statement.

However, in the same tweet, there were Evert’s supporters who brought out the point that live, on-air commentary for television in a match isn’t as easy as it is sounds or is made to look on screen. Perhaps, she could be forgiven for this as Muchova did remind many of Federer with her style of play.

Apart from Evert, Australian star Nick Kyrgios has also expressed his admiration for the Czech star. After her win against Naomi Osaka, Kyrgios couldn’t help but draw parallels between Muchová and Federer because of her imperious volleys.

In the post-match interview, Muchová responded by admitting that Federer has always been her inspiration. She also gave a nod to Kyrgios too, mentioning that she looks up to him for his serve and other top male players as well.

As Muchová moves forward, she’s set to face off Anastasia Potapova in her next match on Saturday morning, where all eyes will be on her. Not just for her impressive skills, but also for the conversations she’s sparked about gender in tennis.

Post Edited By:Dhruv Rupani

About the author

Rishika Singh

Rishika Singh

instagram-icon

Meet Rishika, the Tennis Writer at The SportsRush who spins words as deftly as Federer spins his backhand. Her tennis obsession began at 12, inspired by her dad’s adoration for Roger Federer (the only correct choice, obviously). An athlete herself, Rishika covers sports in an entertaining yet insightful manner, aiming to draw more fans into the game. When not watching or writing about tennis, Rishika loves baking and cooking, dreaming of one day launching her own food truck. Imagine each bite as delightful as a match point. Rishika’s unique blend of sports passion and culinary dreams makes her a standout voice in sports journalism. She serves up stories with humour and wit, ensuring her readers enjoy every moment of the game.

Read more from Rishika Singh

Share this article