Butt taps of 16-year-old Sara Bejlek prompt US Open outrage
A teenage tennis player’s Grand Slam debut at the 2022 US Open is being overshadowed by lewd chatter on social media.
Sara Bejlek, a 16-year-old athlete who hails from Czechia, made headlines after a close greeting with her father and coach went viral following a qualifying match victory.
After she defeated Heather Watson of the UK on Friday, the Twitterverse lost its collective mind over footage of Bejlek celebrating with her father, Jaroslav Bejlek, and her coach, Jakub Kahoun, in which the athlete’s backside appeared to be patted repeatedly, according to the Daily Mail.
La célébration de Sara Bejlek (16 ans) après sa qualif pour le tableau principal enflamme les réseaux sociaux à travers le monde. Il s'agit de son père et de son coach. pic.twitter.com/zfhFgRGbql
— Tennis Break News (@tennisbreaknews) August 27, 2022“There’s absolutely no reason to touch a 16 yo girl on her butt like that. It’s beyond inappropriate,” one person tweeted, per Daily Mail. “As the video progressed it got worse and worse.”
Another person reportedly wrote that the men were acting “creepy” with the teenage athlete.
“The WTA needs to look into these especially since these young girls are traveling w men from a very young age. Also y’all can say its the dad or wtv, but does your dad touch your bum like that,” one person allegedly tweeted.
Other critics felt differently, however.
“It is pretty common in Czechia,” another person tweeted, per Daily Mail. “Not something I would do, but many men just don’t think about it in a sexual way. Google our Easter traditions, you might be shocked.”
Another added that the embrace is “perfectly normal in some cultures and households. One sees what they want to see.”
Bejlek made her US Open main draw debut on Monday, losing to Ludmilla Samsonova in the first round, 6-1, 6-3.
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