Eugenie Bouchard has once again shut down criticism of a broadcaster who was branded ‘sexist’ following the ‘twirlgate’ saga that took place at the 2015 Australian Open.
Bouchard had just defeated Dutch star Kiki Bertens 6-0, 6-3, to advance to the third round of the tournament, when she was asked about her fluorescent pink and yellow outfit by Australian broadcaster Ian Cohen.
She and Serena Williams had been wearing the same colours during the Grand Slam, with the American having also been asked to show off her outfit following her second-round victory against Vera Zvonareva by doing a ‘twirl’.
Bouchard had stepped back onto the court for an interview with the former Network Ten reporter, Cohen, who said: ‘Last night you Tweeted that you loved Serena Williams’ outfit. Obviously, the fluoro [colours] are working for you girls at the moment.
‘She was kind enough to give us a twirl. Can you give us a twirl and tell us about your outfit?’
The 32-year-old, who has become a big name on the pro pickleball circuit in recent years, responded: ‘A twirl?’
Eugenie Bouchard (pictured) has said that she had no issue with a reporter at the Australian Open asking her to show off her outfit by doing a ‘twirl’
Bouchard asked to spin around and perform the twirl in front of fans at Margaret Court Arena
Despite the question drawing some criticism from some members of the tennis community, Bouchard insisted she was ‘not offended’
She smiled and proceeded to spin around on the spot in front of fans at Margaret Court Arena.
‘I mean, I have to say, I think Serena’s outfit is the best. Even better than mine, I’m going to give her that,’ Bouchard added.
But the question from Cohen drew criticism from some, with 12-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King branding the request ‘truly sexist’.
‘The Australian Open interviewer asking the women to “twirl” on court is out of line,’ she wrote on X. ‘This is truly sexist. If you ask the women, you have to ask the guys to twirl as well.’
Ex-Lionesses captain, Kelly Smith, said she would have ‘slapped’ the interviewer if he had asked her to do the same, describing the request to Daily Mail sport as ‘ignorant’.
The saga was subsequently dubbed ‘twirlgate’.
At the time, Bouchard, who reached a career-high singles ranking of No 5 on the WTA Tour, said she took no offence at the comment and has continued to maintain that stance 11 years later.
‘People went crazy over that…’ the Canadian tennis star said during an interview with The OK Sweetie Show.
Broadcaster Ian Cohen (left, with Rafael Nadal) had noted that both Bouchard and Serena Williams had been wearing similar fluorescent outfits
Williams (pictured), meanwhile, did not comment on whether she thought the moment was sexist
‘People just saw it as such a sexist thing. “She just won her match and you only care about what she looks like.”
‘But I was like: “I care about what I look like.
‘”I want to show off my cute outfit. I’m OK with it”. Like weaponising it and using it to your advantage.’
She added: ‘If I look cute and people think I look cute, I’ll post my cute outfit, and get more followers, get more brand deals.
‘People took it so hardcore, and while I do understand that side of it, I’m just like: “My outfit’s cute guys”.’
Podcast host Jules Spadaro added, paraphrasing Bouchard: ‘”I’m just a girl, my outfits are cute. Why can’t we be both?”’
Bouchard added: ‘Exactly. And that was the thing. It was one or the other.’
‘Use it to your advantage,’ she added.
During the podcast, Bouchard said that she wanted to show off her outfit
Bouchard would go on to reach the quarter-finals, where she was knocked out by Maria Sharapova
Cohen has over 30 years of experience working in broadcasting and written journalism. He is the owner of Coza Live Media and Communication, a brand that also offers media training services. He had also spent time working with 3AW before going on to work with Network Ten and Nova FM.
An award-winning journalist, Cohen has covered a multitude of sporting events from the Olympics to the Tour de France. He has continued to perform media responsibilities at the Australian Open in recent years.
Channel 7 held the broadcast rights to the tournament at that time, but it had distanced itself from the interview, stating that Cohen had been working for the host broadcaster.
Bouchard was pressed on the matter at the 2015 Australian Open, insisting she was ‘not offended.’
‘I’m fine with being asked to twirl if they ask the guys to flex. I think it was an in-the-moment thing and it was funny,’ the Canadian had said.
Williams, meanwhile, did not comment on whether she thought the moment was sexist.
‘I wouldn’t ask Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer to twirl. Whether it’s sexist or not, I don’t know. I can’t answer that,’ said Williams, a second-round winner over Vera Zvonareva.
‘I didn’t really want to twirl because I don’t need all the extra attention.
‘Whether I twirl or not, it’s not the end of the world. It’s about being positive and just moving forward.’
Bouchard, a 2014 Wimbledon finalist, retired from professional tennis in 2025 at the National Bank Open in her hometown of Montreal.