Qinwen Zheng, an emerging star in women’s tennis, is currently in the spotlight for the wrong reasons following her recent match at the Miami Open. Although she delivered a solid performance against Sloane Stephens, winning convincingly 6-3, 6-3, a bizarre incident involving a towel triggered a wave of criticism from fans and observers.
The controversial moment occurred during the second set when Zheng, comfortably ahead at 4-0, requested a towel. A ball kid, eager to assist, inadvertently brought the wrong towel — belonging to Stephens. Zheng’s immediate reaction was one of hesitation; she gestured with her hand to refuse and stepped back, clearly signaling her discomfort in accepting the towel. The ball kid, initially unaware of the mistake, continued to approach until the situation was rectified, and the correct towel was delivered. Zheng accepted it and wiped her sweat before resuming play.
However, despite her convincing victory, the towel incident quickly overshadowed the result. Fans took to social media, particularly the platform X, to express their discontent with Zheng’s behavior towards the young ball kid. One user commented: “Another reason, aside from hygiene concerns, to stop subjecting ball kids to abuse from players and tennis hierarchy. I thought tennis had put an end to this abuse after Covid.” Another added: “She was like, please don’t come near me with that towel.” These comments quickly garnered reactions, reflecting a growing sentiment against what is seen as a sense of privilege among players.
For decades, ball boys and girls have played a crucial role in the smooth running of tennis matches, delivering towels and assisting players during competitions. However, the pandemic led to a reassessment of this practice, with tournaments suspending towel delivery to reduce contact and promote hygiene. Players were required to collect their own towels from designated spots, a change that generated mixed reactions and criticisms related to time constraints.
At the end of 2024, the ATP circuit reintroduced towel delivery with the aim of improving the pace of matches. Still, as demonstrated at the Miami Open, the return of this practice has not been without controversy. Critics argue that allowing children to handle sweaty towels is inappropriate and reflects a concerning trend of complacency among players. One fan questioned: “Again, why are kids handling players’ towels!? Are players really that lazy these days!?” Another added: “go get your own towel, this is so gross.”
Sharing a similar opinion, tennis player Coco Gauff recently commented on a podcast about her discomfort with the practice: “I agree that we shouldn’t want ball kids touching sweaty towels lol I wouldn’t want to either, I’ve always felt bad giving them my sweaty towels lol.”
As the video of Zheng’s interaction continues to circulate online, many are questioning the appropriateness of the episode and what it reveals about the current state of fair play in tennis. Zheng’s demeanor has been interpreted by some as dismissive, with one comment stating: “Am I seeing this wrong or was the player clearly displaying attitude?”
In the wake of this controversy, the tennis community is asking: how can the integrity of the sport be ensured while also valuing the contributions of young ball boys and girls? What is your opinion on this situation?
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