Aussie fans are furious at Channel 9 for snubbing Serena Williams at Australian Open
Viewers are accusing Channel 9 of sexist broadcasting after both Serena Williams and World No.1 women's player Simona Halep were not broadcast on TV screens last night, as they played their respective matches at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Nine’s controversial and bold decision to not show the second-round clash between Serena Williams and Eugenie Bouchard on either of its free-to-air channels was met with backlash from furious viewers.
Williams, who is chasing her record 24th Grand Slam crown in a row, was not able to be seen by Aussie viewers. This did not sit well with fans who took to social media to air out their frustrations with the major broadcaster.
What is going on with the @AustralianOpen coverage @Channel9 first we could not see @Simona_Halep and now we can’t even see @serenawilliams live?! Pick up your game #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/QeA5eCeHpN
— Maria Barres (@MariaBarres) January 17, 2019
@Channel9 second night running. No coverage of Serena Williams- center court matches. Your app doesn’t even have that option. What is going on? You have definitely ruined this entire Australian open with your coverage channel 9. Just let channel 7 do what they are best at!
— Danielle Williams (@Dannii1409) January 17, 2019
Greatest tennis player of all time currently on the court but @Channel9 not currently showing the match. Disrespectful to the 🐐
— Matt Nicholls (@mattnicholls29) January 17, 2019
Channel 9's main channel aired the fifth set of Alex Bolt’s match against Gilles Simon while 9Gem broadcast Alexander Zverev’s match against Jeremy Chardy. 9Go! aired a re-run of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic film Last Action Hero.
The bold decision to not broadcast either Serena Williams' match did not go unnoticed, infuriating Aussie viewers and raising eyebrows with international tennis commentators who were in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
World No. 1 women's player Simona Halep was also overlooked on Australian TV, with Channel 9 choosing to air Alex Bolt and Alexei Popyrin's respective matches rather than Halep's.
Did you tune into the tennis last night? What do you think of Channel 9's coverage? Let us know in the comments below.