Alizé Cornet, a French professional tennis player, was penalized on Tuesday when she fixed her backwards shirt on the court at the US Open.
Cornet had just returned to the court after the players were given a 10-minute heat break to rehydrate and coll-off from the 100 °F (38 °C) heat index. Realizing her shirt was on backwards, Cornet stepped to the back of the court to adjust the garment. In the process, the back of her very modest sports bra was exposed to the crowd. Umpire Christian Rask immediately administered a code violation.
Judy Murray shared the controversial moment on Twitter,
Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break. Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct….. ????
But the men can change shirts on court. https://t.co/sCN4KDXYTb— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 28, 2018
Unlike male players, many of whom changed shirts on court that very day, female competitors must step off of the court to remove their shirts regardless of the undergarments worn underneath. Cornet looked surprised by Rask’s decision to file the violation.
Fans were quick to point out the double standard on Twitter,
Alize Cornet given a code violation for briefly removing her top because it was on backwards (wearing a sports bra underneath, no less).
Sure! Great! Logical! Fair! pic.twitter.com/IyL4ZGS3UA
— christina riley (@_cmarier) August 29, 2018
Cornet’s discreet t-shirt reversal is a code violation while Djokovic’s chest beating is okay. #DoubleStandards #tennis #usopen pic.twitter.com/cAJn91HnSs
— Matthew Keenan (@mwkeenan) August 29, 2018
oh it's America. They weird. They make beach volleyball women wear a couple of ribbons, cheerleaders not much more, but Alizé displays a quite solid athletic bra and they go nuts.
— Anna (@sophoife) August 29, 2018
“Of course, I was surprised when I just changed (the) T-shirt really quick, and he gave me the code violation,” Cornet said after the match. “I didn’t expect it, and I told him it was pretty weird.”
“Fortunately, she was only assessed a warning with no further penalty or fine,” the US Tennis Association said about the event.
Multiple players left matches early on Tuesday due to the heat. More than 20 people in the audience required medical attention due to heat-related fatigue.