Alcaraz-Sabalenka and the case of the birthday cakes at the Madrid tournament: “Different treatment for men and women” – Corriere.it

A controversy over the size of birthday cakes. This is the latest case that broke out in Madrid, where the second seasonal Master 1000 on clay is currently being played, a combined event (both the men’s and women’s circuits on the field). Subject of discussion the different treatment reserved by the organizers to Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka. The two share, as well as the position in their respective rankings (number 2), the date of birth: May 5 for both, Alcaraz of 2003, Sabalenka of 1998. To celebrate them, the organization of the tournament honored them with a cake. And here the problems arise.

In Alcaraz, Spanish, undisputed local idol (considering the physical problems that keep Nadal out), the sweet gift was delivered on the pitch, after the semifinal win against Coric. «Feliz cumple, Carlitos», reads the huge cake, complete with a tennis ball and the number «20», the years completed by the native of Murcia, in plain sight. A celebration in style.

The thought for Sabalenka is decidedly less sumptuous. The Belarusian won her semifinal on Thursday against Sakkari, she didn’t play yesterday. She can then be seen smiling inside the Caja Magica, the facility where the tournament is staged, holding a simple-sized cake in her hand, with a similar dedication: “Happy birthday, Aryna”. The difference between the cake sent to Alcaraz and the one for Sabalenka is clear. And down criticism of a different treatment for Carlitos, man, and Aryna, woman.

Former number 1 Victoria AzarenkaBelarusian, commented on a post on Twitter who spoke of the “stunning” difference between the size of the two cakes saying that there could not be a more accurate adjective, “stunning”, on the treatment reserved for the two colleagues. “It doesn’t seem right to me,” wrote Canadian Bianca instead Andreescu.

Couldn?t be more accurate on the treatment https://t.co/x89RytI0zV

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 5, 2023

Now, it is evident that the sumptuousness of the two desserts is different. Alcaraz is number 2 in the world, like Sabalenka, yet in partial defense of the tournament Carlitos is the new one enfant du pays, the “little Rafa” that Spain has already adopted as an idol. It may therefore be understandable that Madrid reserves him a little extra pampering. Moreover. Holger Rune also celebrated his 20th birthday in the Iberian capital on April 29: for him, as for Sabalenka, the cake was a standard size.