Tennis commentator's remarks re Strycova's personal life

10 replies

StellarLunar · 12/07/2019 12:29

I was watching the tennis a few days ago but this has stayed with me and I am considering making a complaint to the BBC (?) . Did anyone else hear this?
Commentator made remarks to the effect of
"Strycova used to go by her husband's name too, she was Záhlavová-Strýcová. She divorced her husband a few years ago. It's terrible/ I feel so sorry for her (I can't remember exact phrasing) being divorced in her late twenties"

I was shocked. I can't imagine them remarking on Nadal or Federer like that.

Now, I must admit I don't watch a lot of tennis, I possibly watched an hour max this year so maybe I'm over reacting and it's common to comment on players' personal lives?

OP posts:

MockerstheFeManist · 12/07/2019 15:20

Her husband would have been Zahalov. Her married name would have been Zahalova accordingly.

(See also Czech sibling tennis players Helena Sukova and Kyril Suk.)

AnyFucker · 12/07/2019 14:00

Three of them

AnyFucker · 12/07/2019 13:59

I was more put out by the complete annihilation of our own Johanna Konta directly after her match with Strycova

Three of the stood in a row bitching and moaning about her performance

It made me see red and Johanna was understandably upset about the way she portrayed and addressed at her subsequent interview

MemorialBeach · 12/07/2019 13:55

I certainly didn't feel it came across as judgmental or negative. If anything the commentator (who may have been Sam Smith I think - not totally sure) was trying not to cause offence as she didn't want to appear to be making light of divorce.

Original poster

StellarLunar · 12/07/2019 13:00

Memorial that's what my DH said too. Maybe I'm being a bit too gung ho and looking for offence where none was meant

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MemorialBeach · 12/07/2019 12:59

I watched that match and the comment was actually mainly about the pronunciation of Strycova's surname, and how it was more difficult when she was know by the double-barrelled married name. The bit about it being terrible that she divorced in her late twenties was I felt because the commentator didn't want to come across as being too flippant/uncaring about the divorce/name change. So along the lines of "we used to have to try to pronounce this long double-barrelled name but she got divorced so now it's easier (but of course it's sad that she got divorced)"

Original poster

StellarLunar · 12/07/2019 12:54

I will of course find out who the commentator was and double check the station before complaining! I was wondering if anyone else had heard it too. I think it's nice to get a bit of light background on the players but it was the "feeling sorry for her getting divorced in her late 20s" that I object to. So judgemental and negative

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Fraggling · 12/07/2019 12:43

That's really weird and not the sort of happy / factual stuff they normally do

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 12/07/2019 12:40

They do comment on players' personal lives: we've heard plenty about Federer's wife and children, and during Queens, reference to Feliciano Lopez's fiancee. There was, of course, a lot of comment on Wawrinka's personal life after Kyrgios "sledged" his girlfriend during a match which led to a lot of publicity. Never heard them comment quite so subjectively about a relationship though.

I don't think you'll get far with a complaint if you can't quote exactly what was said and by whom though!

Bignicetree · 12/07/2019 12:36

Who was the commentator ?
That's totally weird

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