Thousands of tennis fans across the world took to social media today critisizing the father and the coach who were caught on camera patting the backside of the sixteen-year-old Czech tennis player when celebrating with them her win and qualification for the Grand Slam tournament.
Sara Bejlek was qualified after defeating a number of opponents, including the UK’s Heather Watson, according to Daily Mail.
Cameras caught two men, Bejlek’s father and coach celebrating with her, hugging her and grabbing her butt, with her father seemingly kissing her on the mouth.
La célébration de Sara Bejlek (16 ans) après sa qualif pour le tableau principal enflamme les réseaux sociaux à travers le monde. Il s'agit de son père et de son coach. pic.twitter.com/zfhFgRGbql
— Tennis Break News (@tennisbreaknews) August 27, 2022
However, while some fans on social media described the action as inappropriate and call for the WTA to investigate the incident, Bejlek said there’s nothing wrong about it.
‘Of course I saw the video. It was a spontaneous reaction of the whole team. We rejoiced.
‘It may certainly seem inconvenient and uncomfortable to some, but we have already discussed it with the team. It won’t happen again.’
‘Dad is my dad and always will be. And I’ve known the coach since I was eight years old. He tapes me, he massages me.
‘If something similar happened in the Czech Republic, no one would deal with it. But since we are in America, everyone comments on it. But as I say, we talked and it won’t happen again,’ Bejlek told reporters while replying to criticism.
