“I Don’t Want to Compete Against Someone Who Disrespects Tennis!” Ekaterina Alexandrova Refuses to Play Coco Gauff, Citing “Forgot-the-Racket” Fiasco
In a move that has stunned the tennis world, Russian star Ekaterina Alexandrova has formally refused to compete against American sensation Coco Gauff, citing what she calls “a lack of professionalism and respect for the sport.” The controversy erupted following Gauff’s now-viral “forgot-the-racket” incident, in which she appeared flustered and unprepared at the start of a match, causing widespread debate among fans and pundits.
Alexandrova, currently ranked within the WTA top 30, didn’t mince words during her press conference:
“I don’t want to compete against someone who disrespects tennis. We all make mistakes, but this is not a junior tournament. Forgetting a racket? It’s either arrogance or carelessness — neither belongs on a professional court.”
The incident in question occurred last week during the Madrid Open, when Gauff entered the court only to realise she had forgotten her racket in the locker room. The moment, caught live on camera, quickly spread across social media platforms, attracting both mockery and sympathy.
Many fans saw Alexandrova’s comments as a bold, even brutal stance — but others praised her for upholding standards in a sport often criticised for becoming too lenient with its young stars.
In a since-deleted Instagram story, Alexandrova posted a picture of a racket emoji with the caption:
“Step 1: Bring your tools. Step 2: Be a pro.”
The 20-year-old American didn’t stay silent. Speaking after her doubles match in Rome, Coco Gauff responded with fire:
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but this sport isn’t about tearing others down. Yes, I forgot my racket — and I owned up to it. But I’ve also owned Grand Slam titles. So I’ll let my game speak for itself.”
The comment drew a standing ovation from the crowd and has since become one of the most replayed post-match interviews of the season.
The tennis community is deeply divided. While some support Alexandrova’s strong stance on professionalism, others believe her actions were unnecessarily personal.
On X (formerly Twitter), one fan wrote:
“This isn’t about the racket. It’s about intimidation and elitism.”
Others defended Alexandrova:
“Tennis is a job. If you showed up to a business meeting without your laptop, you’d be judged. Why is sport different?”
WTA officials have confirmed that no penalties will be imposed on either player, though they are “monitoring the situation closely.”
While it’s unclear whether the two stars will meet on court anytime soon, one thing is certain: the Alexandrova vs Gauff tension has added a dramatic new chapter to the women’s tour. Whether this will ignite a new rivalry or fizzle out remains to be seen — but tennis, once again, finds itself in the spotlight for reasons beyond the scoreboard.
