Politics

Andy Murray applauded after scolding reporter at Wimbledon

Jul 13, 2017

Andy Murray is no sexist.

Andy Murray is a hero for womankind today after interrupting a journalist to point out that female tennis players do in fact exist.

During his post-match news conference at Wimbledon after losing to Sam Querrey in the quarterfinals at the All England Club, a reporter began the question by referring to Querrey as the “first US player” to reach a major semifinal since 2009.

Murray quickly interjected: “Male player.”

“Excuse me?” the journalist asked.

“Male player,” Murray said again.

“Yes, first male player, that’s for sure,” the journalist backtracked before continuing his question.

While Querrey is the first American man to make it to the semifinals at a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick went to the Wimbledon final eight years ago, Serena Williams has won more than 10 major titles since 2009.

Her sister Venus was also a Wimbledon semifinalist this year and last and made it to the final of the Australian Open in January.

Additionally, American female tennis players Coco Vandeweghe, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens have all reached major semifinals since Roddick.

People quickly took to social media to applaud Murray for taking a stand against “casual sexism”.

His mother and tennis coach Judy tweeted:

That’s my boy. ❤️ https://t.co/ldZUQ2wbZj

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) July 12, 2017

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also tweeted:

What a star @andy_murray is – on and off the court. https://t.co/JhytMYYBWL

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 12, 2017

While twitter user Stephen Thomas also threw his support behind the athlete:

Is Andy Murray the most doggedly feminist *male* player in tennis? This seems to happen every year, but he’s always ready to call s**t out. https://t.co/fQqKMYC4W4

— Stephen Thomas (@SWilliamThomas) July 12, 2017

This isn’t the first time Murray has stepped up for women in tennis — he was the first high-profile player to take on a female coach in 2014, two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo.

At the time, he defended his decision and wrote on his website: “Have I become a feminist? Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have.”