Some found it cruel that ESPN cameras focused on Iga Swiatek in tears after her loss to Jessica Pegula in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Swiatek, the world number one, was seen lying on the floor with tears in her eyes after her straight-set defeat to local favourite Pegula.
Cameras were glued to the Polish pro for nearly 20 seconds as he wiped away tears in a backstage area where players gather before and after matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“That performance brought tears to my eyes,” one announcer said. “She just couldn't get her game under control. She was unsettled from the start. She just couldn't handle Pegula.”
Some felt that ESPN's focus on Swiatek's emotional response was in poor taste.
“ESPN, I hate watching Yiga cry in the background!” Lindsay Gibbs, founder of the Power Plays newsletter Written About X.
Ben Rosenberg, host of the “No Challenges Remaining” podcast, took issue with ESPN placing cameras in the area where players were relaxing after the game.
“It's hard to understand why players aren't already rioting against this kind of intrusive stare backstage at Grand Slams,” Rosenberg says. Written Something about X, including a message from Gibbs.
“There is very little respect shown to a player who clearly feels vulnerable.”
“Why are you filming Iga Swiatek crying long after the match is over? Does it seem cruel?” another wrote.
Swiatek was visibly frustrated during the quarterfinal match.
She even slammed her racket into the net after her serve was broken in the second set.
“It's never easy playing against Jess,” Swiatek said, according to ESPN. “Her ball is low and flat, so it's difficult. I made too many mistakes.”
Pegula, the son of billionaire Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula, has yet to drop a set in the tournament and has won 14 of his last 15 matches.
She was trailing 0-6 going into her Grand Slam quarterfinal against Swiatek.
The sixth-seeded American will face unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic on Thursday.
