‘Do better’: Tennis broadcaster slammed for ‘inconceivable’ error
Major tennis broadcaster 'Tennis Channel' has been called out after appearing to make a mistake when picturing Canadian star Felix Auger Aliassime at the Barcelona Open.
Auger-Aliassime was up against fellow Canadian Denis Shapavolov in the Round of 16 at the Barcelona Open with players such as Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas also up in a blockbuster day of matches.
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Tennis Channel broadcasted the match-ups but the graphic, posted to social media, appeared to show tennis legend Arthur Ashe in the photo instead of the young Canadian superstar.
Ashe was a trailblazer in tennis and in the sporting world in the 1960s and 70s being the first black man to win the US Open (1968), the Australian Open (1970) and Wimbledon (1975).
Arthur was also the first black man to represent the US in the Davis Cup, which he went on to win five times.
Auger-Aliassime was the only black tennis player on Tennis Channel's line-up and the error caused a huge stir on social media.
Many top tennis reporters retweeted the graphic, while fans called out the Tennis Channel to 'do better' in the current climate.
Hmmmmmm. https://t.co/ZUhIzKZiWk
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) April 21, 2021
What is this @tennischanel? That’s inconceivable! Shame shame shame
— DQ-Poa (@DqPoa) April 22, 2021
Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/vTZS81vMdc
— Lorna (@LuckyNet8) April 22, 2021
This is insulting by Tennis Channel I hope they apologize to Felix.
— OrvilleLloydDouglas🇨🇦🏳️🌈 (@OrvilleLloyd) April 22, 2021
@TennisChannel I know very well Felix doesn’t look like Arthur Ashe. Do better! pic.twitter.com/MuNeSEjCRq
— QTShee (@qtshee) April 21, 2021
Er, that's not Félix. Tennis Channel uses image of the late American tennis player Arthur Ashe to advertise tomorrow's battle of the young Canadians. https://t.co/202WG6teBW
— Julie Smyth (@JulieSmythOtt) April 22, 2021
This is unacceptable!!!! WTF!!!
— I’m here live......I’m not a cat (@CoreyMc2g) April 21, 2021
According to the Tennis Channel, Arthur Ashe might have won in Barcelona today.😤
— Luvly1 (@LuvlyDramaGurl) April 22, 2021
@Chanda_Rubin what’s up with a pic of Arthur Ashe instead of one of Felix? Please tell me this is a bad joke on TC part? pic.twitter.com/Jh2ItLDVhR
— KC (@KC82516163) April 22, 2021
Do better @TennisChannel. How can you be seen as a quintessential tennis authority when you use a pic of Arthur Ashe for Felix Auger-Aliassime? @Martina @felixtennis @BillieJeanKing @Bruthasontennis @kylecmuse @Chanda_Rubin @FTiafoe pic.twitter.com/3g7ia9tgVs
— Leslie Allen (@LeslieTweets81) April 22, 2021
Despitethe social media furore, Auger-Aliassime played a sensational match to defeat compatriot Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-3 for one of his best wins.
He will face Tsitsipas after the No.2 seed continued his good form to defeat Aussie Alex de Minaur.
Tennis stars speak out in 2020 after BLM movement
Last year marked a huge moment for black tennis players following the Black Lives Movement.
Americans Serena Williams and Francis Tiafoe talked out last year about their struggles as black men and women in tennis.
Williams claimed she was "underpaid and undervalued" throughout her career because she was a black woman tennis player.
While Tiafoe admitted he can feel like an “outsider” due to the lack of diversity in tennis.
Young star Coco Gauff also used her platform during the Black Lives Movement to call for change in the community.
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