'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Roger Federer came under fire for his admission about his initial ‘lack of respect’ for rival Novak Djokovic. In other news, Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs' podcast co-host drew criticism for her negative remarks towards Iga Swiatek.
Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik drew flak for his unexpected retirement in the middle of the Stuttgart Open quarterfinal against Lorenzo Musetti. Queen's Club members faced backlash for seeking to halt women's event through legal means.
Also, Carlos Alcaraz faced ridicule after admitting his heavy dependence on coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s guidance between his matches. Alexander Zverev was slammed for his last-minute withdrawal from the Boss Open in Stuttgart.
On that note, here's a recap of the top controversies from last week:
Trending
Roger Federer received flak for his confession about initial ‘lack of respect’ for Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer received criticism online after admitting that he did not respect Novak Djokovic during the early years of their rivalry. Over the course of 50 matches played, Djokovic led Federer 27-23 in their head-to-head matchups.
Federer shared his initial thoughts on the Serb after almost 18 years of intense competition.
"I played him in Monaco the very first time and I walked off the court and thought, 'Yeah, he’s OK'. Even though there was some hype around him, I wasn't really fully convinced," Federer said in a promotional video clip for his forthcoming documentary 'Federer: Twelve Final Days'.
"I think I didn’t give Novak the respect he deserved because of his technical flaws… But then he ironed those things out super well and became an unbelievable monster of a player," Federer added.
The Swiss' revelation sparked anger among fans on X (formerly Twitter), with many expressing frustration over the delayed nature of Federer's admission.
Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs' podcast co-host criticized for her negative comments towards Iga Swiatek
Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs' podcast co-host Caitlin Thompson faced criticism for her controversial remarks about Iga Swiatek.
On "Racquet's Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast," Thompson questioned Swiatek's dominance on the WTA tour, expressing her lack of admiration for the Polish player.
The co-host reportedly said several negative things about Swiatek in a part of the podcast that was later deleted and also likened her to former World No. 1 Justine Henin based on their physical resemblance. She also used the term "spectrum-y," sparking backlash for its association with autism spectrum disorder traits.
Tennis fans were shocked by the remarks and voiced criticism on X, questioning Stubbs for not editing out those comments from the podcast.
"Also I am sorry @rennaestubbs there is literally zero point of you defending iga on twitter if you’re willingly sharing a platform with an absolutely nasty woman who agrees with twitter trolls and doubles down - wonder what you would do if someone said the same things about you," one fan wrote.
Alexander Bublik called out for his unexpected retirement in Stuttgart QF
Alexander Bublik left many tennis fans puzzled by his decision to retire in the middle of his quarterfinal clash against fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti at the 2024 Stuttgart Open.
Third seed Bublik took the first set 6-4, and Musetti then leveled the second set 6-1. In the final set at 1-0, the Kazakh unexpectedly retired from the match and handed the Italian a walkover victory to the semifinal where he lost 6-4, 6-0 to the eventual champion Matteo Berrettini.
Bublik will now defend his title at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he will take on Max Purcell in the first round.
Members of the Queen's Club received backlash for pursuing legal action to stop women's event
Members of The Queen's Club faced criticism after allegedly considering blocking the planned women's event in 2025. The grasscourt tournament has only hosted men’s singles and doubles matches for the last 51 years and no women’s events have been held since 1973.
Despite plans to reintroduce women's events in 2025, a recent report by English outlet iNews claimed that some club members were exploring legal avenues to prevent the tournaments from happening. The members reportedly expressed dissatisfaction at not being consulted before the club agreed to host the proposed women's competitions with the WTA.
Tennis fans took to social media to express their displeasure at the report.
Carlos Alcaraz sparked mockery for admitting dependence on coach Juan Carlos Ferrero during matches
Carlos Alcaraz faced ridicule from tennis fans online after admitting to his heavy reliance on coach Juan Carlos Ferrero's instructions during matches.
Alcaraz confessed in a conversation with L’Equipe that he depends a lot on Ferrero's coaching to secure victories, admitting he often struggles to find solutions against opponents independently.
"Honestly, in the vast majority of cases, I apply what Juan Carlos advises me to do. From outside the court, we can see much better... So I apply. There are plenty of moments where I don't really know what to do on the court," Alcaraz told L'Equipe.
This candid confession led many tennis fans on social media to question Alcaraz's abilities.
Carlos Alcaraz will begin his title defense at the Queen's Club Championships, where he will face Francisco Cerundolo in the first round on June 18.
Alexander Zverev faced criticism for his late withdrawal from Boss Open in Stuttgart
Alexander Zverev was criticized for pulling out of his Round of 16 match against Brandon Nakashima at the Boss Open in Stuttgart, just days after losing the 2024 French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz. Richard Gasquet, who got into the draw as a lucky loser, took his place but lost 6-3, 6-4.
Tennis fans on social media expressed their displeasure with the German for backing out at the last minute.
The German tennis star will now participate in the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he will face compatriot Oscar Otte in the first round on June 18.
Who Are Roger Federer's Kids? Know All About Federer's Twins
