Vanessa de Largie | The Huff Post | August 14, 2015
It’s a sad day in tennis when an elite sportsperson slut-shames a woman.
After losing the first set in Montreal, promising Australian tennis star — Nick Kyrgios fired a low sledge to double Grand Slam winner and currently ranked number 5 in the world — Stan Wawrinka.
“Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate.” Nick muttered.
I was appalled and apologized via tweet to Wawrinka for the behavior of my fellow Australian. I cannot begin to comprehend how Wawrinka felt — there are no words.
As I began to contemplate Nick’s actions, it came to my attention, that Kyrgios had done something much worse, he had slut-shamed a woman, an elite sportswoman, who wasn’t there to defend herself.
The woman in question is Donna Vekic — a 19-year-old Croation tennis player. As a woman — life is tough enough without one’s sex life being splashed across the globe as a news headline. Obviously the other victim of Nick’s idiotic low sledge is his tennis colleague — Thanasis Kokkinakis.
But back to Vekic. How will this affect her career, her relationships and her life? What is the irreversible damage of Kyrgios’ heat-of-the-moment remark?
Kyrgios’ dismal apology doesn’t cut it, I’m afraid. I don’t care how young he is. Many sportspeople are thrown into the spotlight much younger, yet they still manage to exude respect.
If that wasn’t enough, on an Australian radio show, his brother Christos was interviewed and kicked off air. His defense to Nick’s actions:
“Vekic ‘loved the ‘kokk’.” He said.
What is it about blaming women for everything? According to reporters, the reason, Australia lost the cricket recently was because of their WAGS. It couldn’t possibly be because of The Australian Cricket Team, could it?
Apart from the fact that what Kyrgios said is heresay. Have you noticed that no blame has been placed on — Thanassi Kokkinakis? Why is that? Is it because he allegedly banged her? Is the woman just a vessel, a pawn?
If we go from the perspective that Vekic indeed cheated on Wawrinka. Is Kokkinakis blame-free because he is male? One rule for him, another rule for her? I’ve heard Vekic’s morals called into question this week but I’m yet to hear anything said about Kokkinakis’ morals. Isn’t that interesting? I think it says a lot about where we are as a society.
We must never allow elite sportspeople to shame women publicly like Kyrgios has done. The question is, what are Tennis Australia going to do about it?
Once again, I apologize profusely to Stan and Donna. I may be an Australian but Nick Kyrgios certainly doesn’t represent me.
Shame on you Nick!
#NKRising ??
#NKDescending methinks.