US Open Issues Apology After Penalising Alize Cornet for Changing

Alize Cornet was penalised for changing her top on court while male players do this often but are never penalised.

Alize Cornet changing on court during her US Open game.

(Photo: Screengrab)

After Alize Cornet was penalised for changing her top on court at the ongoing US Open, the officials have issued an apology to the French tennis player, saying that all players can change their shirts and that it is not considered a code violation.

We regret that a Code Violation was assessed to Ms. Cornet yesterday. We have clarified the policy to ensure this will not happen moving forward. Fortunately, she was only assessed a warning with no further penalty or fine. Female players, if they choose, may also change their shirts in a more private location close to the court, when available. They will not be assessed a bathroom break in this circumstance.

US Open Statement.

Scottish tennis coach and professional tennis player Andy Murray’s mother, Judy Murray was the first to raise an alarm after French tennis player Alize Cornet was given a code violation by her match umpire for changing her top on court.

Muray points out that while male players are allowed to change their shirts on court without penalty, a woman is charged with code violation for doing the same.

After coming from a break during her game against Johanna Larsson on 28 August, Cornet realised her shirt was put on from the wrong side and quickly changed it on the court itself, to not waste any further time.

To her surprise, the chair umpire penalised her with a code violation because Womens’ Tennis Association rules state that females are not allowed to change clothing on court. However, there is no such ruling for men.

In this tournament itself, the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were seen changing their Tshirts on the court to cope with the extreme heat that has hit New York.

(With inputs from The Independent.)