Sexism Row Erupts After Top Female Tennis Player Asked To "Give Us A Twirl" On Court

    Eugenie Bouchard was asked to show off her outfit following her victory in the second round of the Australian Open.

    An Australian tennis commentator has been accused of sexism after asking Canada's Eugenie Bouchard to "give us a twirl" in a post-match interview.

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    Tennis Australia commentator Ian Cohen, who was holding a Channel 7 microphone during the interview, asked the No. 7 seed to show the crowd her outfit following her straight-sets victory over Kiki Bertens in the second round of the Australian Open.

    Cohen made the request after Bouchard expressed her love for Serena Williams' outfit at the competition earlier in the week.

    Despite appearing slightly taken aback by the request, Bouchard obliged and went on to further praise Williams' outfit.

    Speaking afterwards, she admitted: "It was very unexpected. I mean, yeah, I don't know.

    "An old guy asking you to twirl, it was funny."

    However, a number of viewers were not amused by Cohen's actions.

    We need more people to stand up against sexism. No one is asking @rogerfederer to twirl. Don't ask @geniebouchard!

    This reporter should be banned from #AusOpen for asking @geniebouchard to twirl on court after her win. #WTF http://t.co/iHRsIDq1xI

    Disgraceful and sexist interviewing by @Channel7 @geniebouchard @ausopen http://t.co/oJKg3G5fnp

    Hey @rogerfederer why not stand up for Genie Bouchard? She's being asked to twirl by tennis journalists. ...This ain't the1950s. #sexism

    Serena Williams later said she had been uncomfortable when asked to perform a twirl on court after beating Vera Zvonareva.

    Channel 7 responded to the backlash in a statement to the Daily Mail:

    The interview, which didn't air on Channel 7 or 7TWO, was in this instance conducted by a commentator who works for the host broadcaster, Tennis Australia.

    The host broadcaster provides match coverage and some commentary and interviews, which is seen on our live digital streaming service.