Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas is under fire for a controversial Instagram video depicting traditional gender roles, fueling an ongoing debate about the treatment of women in men’s tennis.
Tsitsipas, currently competing on grass, posted a video outlining traditional gender roles, stating men should “protect and provide” while women “create” and turn houses into homes. This sparked immediate backlash, particularly from prominent tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg.
Rothenberg, known for his outspoken commentary, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Tsitsipas and call out the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) for inaction regarding the treatment of women. He revered to several incidents, including:
- Multiple abuse accusations against male players.
- Nick Kyrgios’ open admiration for Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist.
- Tsitsipas’ recent video promoting outdated gender stereotypes.
“Between the many abuse accusations against players, Kyrgios fan boying Andrew Tate, and now whatever the heck this is, the ATP is long overdue a cultural reckoning about women, good lord,” Rothenberg stated.
Ben Rothenberg
This isn’t the first time Tsitsipas has made headlines for his views on gender. In 2022, he echoed entrepreneur Iman Gadzhi’s criticism of “modern feminism,” claiming it fosters hatred towards men.
Former Australian tennis player Rennae Stubbs publicly challenged Tsitsipas’ understanding of women’s experiences. “Ah excuse me!? How would you know what women go through on a daily basis!?” Stubbs questioned, urging him to speak with Iranian women facing extreme inequality.