Sports

Alize Cornet: Serena Williams catsuit row 10,000 times worse than US Open shirt incident

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Williams outfit is set to be banned at the French Open (Picture: Corbis via Getty)

Alize Cornet played down the severity of her receiving a code violation at the US Open for getting changed on court and insists her own tennis federations plans to ban Serena Williams catsuit are 10,000 times worse.

The French star was at the centre of a controversial incident on Tuesday, when she was penalised by the chair umpire after she quickly changed her shirt around after putting it on the wrong way during a 10-minute heat break at the end of the second set.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) have since apologised for the incident and moved to clarify the rules regarding women changing their shirts on court.

Cornet – who was beaten by Swedens Johanna Larsson in the first round – was appreciative of receiving the support of the USTA and believes umpire Christian Rask simply made a mistake after being overwhelmed in the moment.

Cornet was at the centre of a row at the US Open (Picture: Eurosport)

However, when asked about gender equality in tennis, she took a swipe at French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli and labelled his comments regarding the banning of Williams catsuit as shocking.

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Yeah, five days I believe a lot of things have happened, Cornet said in a press conference. Doesnt have the equity in sport at the moment.

Its two different things. How can I say? I think that now, of course it can be better, inequity between men and women, but I think we are on the right path. I really believe it. Everybody is working in the same direction. I think we are doing all very good.

Cornet was not impressed by Giudicellis comments (Picture: Corbis via Getty)

Then we still have some people, like, the president of my federation that lives in another, you know, time, and can still do these kind of comments. They are totally for me shocking, and, I mean, Im just saying what I think.

What Bernard Giudicelli said about Serenas catsuit was 10,000 times worse than what happened to me on the court yesterday, because hes the president of French Federation and because he doesnt have to do that.

So, yeah, this kind of person doesnt have the work that we are all doing to make it more fair for women.