"Embarrassment & disgrace to women's tennis" - Fans lash out at Paula Badosa over her female players not being prepared to play 5 sets comments

Paula Badosa's comments about women not being 'prepared' to play five sets of tennis have sparked discussions among fans online. Also receiving flak from fans is the Spaniard's boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas who was embroiled in controversy in the past due to his views on gender roles.

Badosa recently sat down for a chat with Brad Gilbert ahead of her campaign at the Mubadala Citi Open where she gave her opinion on whether women should play best-of-five tennis.

The 26-year-old claimed that women aren't prepared to play five sets of tennis. She also claimed that a woman's body won't recover as well as a man's does.

“I personally don’t think women are prepared to play 5 sets. Also because of what we go through. For example, we go through periods. Our bodies aren’t like a man’s body. So I really think a woman wouldn’t recover as well as a man does.”

Fans didn't take too kindly to Paula Badosa's comments and reacted on X (formerly Twitter). One fan wrote:

"@paulabadosa please stop speaking for women. you’re such an embarrassment and disgrace to women’s tennis. Truly ashamed to see a WTA tennis player making such unnecessary and annoying comments on what women should and should not do. Just shut up."

Another fan sarcastically stated they were 'shocked' that the former World No. 2 was dating Tsitsipas. This was seemingly in reference to when the Greek received flak from fans for seemingly endorsing misogynistic views. However, Tsitsipas later apologized for his mistake.

"And you’re telling me this woman is dating Tsitsipas? I’m shocked, shocked I tell you"

Here are a few other reactions from fans online:

"Women could definitely go 5 sets, the only ones stopping them are people with Paula Badosa’s mindset 😭 like Pregnancy didn’t even stop The Olympians," a fan commented.

"OMG! Is she saying that…. Women.. are not the same as.. Men?!" a fan wrote.

"they need to test the tsitsidosa apartment for lead paint im so serious," a fan quipped.

"If you tell women that they have to play best of 5, they will train for it accordingly," a fan opined.

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Paula Badosa will face Liudmila Samsonova in the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open

Paula Badosa (Image source: GETTY)

Paula Badosa has kicked off her North American hardcourt swing at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C.

The Spaniard began her campaign against Sofia Kenin. She ousted the American 6-1, 7-6(6) in an hour and 30 minutes to set up a Round of 16 clash against Liudmila Samsonova. The Russian received a bye in the opening round as a result of being the third seed.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two players with Samsonova boasting a 3-0 lead against Badosa in the head-to-head. The winner of their match will face Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals.