Social networks are abuzz following the footage in which the father and coach of the teenage tennis star - 16-year-old Sarah Bielek - are seen touching her bottom after her victory in the US Open qualifiers. Bielek defeated Britain's Emma Watson but what will be remembered is the way her close staff members celebrated With her the promotion to her first Grand Slam tournament.
The world number 194 was seen moments after the end of the match shaking hands with her opponent and the chair umpire before approaching her father who hugged her inappropriately to say the least.
She was then seen approaching her coach who also gave her a sick pat on the butt.
However, Bielke didn't seem fazed by their actions and celebrated with the crowd afterwards.
Creepy coaches #WTA #USOpen #Bejlek
She's 16 😳😱 pic.twitter.com/8ORvrHTVkX
— Eggy 🥚 (@TheBoiledEgg) August 27, 2022
The video of the celebration has since gone viral with one video on Twitter being viewed more than 130,000 times.
Many tennis fans slammed the video and described it as "inappropriate" and "creepy".
However, other fans responded to the threads online and were quick to point out that the incident may only seem odd when viewed from a Western perspective where touching a woman's bottom is seen as a sexual act.
"It's quite common in the Czech Republic. Not something I would do, but many men just don't think about it sexually," wrote one commenter.
Bielek had a breakout season in 2022, including winning three ITF World Tennis Tour titles.
Her meteoric rise up the rankings is further illustrated by the fact that she has only competed in two junior Grand Slam events, according to the International Tennis Federation.
She reached the junior semifinals at this year's French Open and told the ITF she had never been to the United States before this month.
The one who is ranked 23rd in the United States Open championship, Barbora Krejcikova, and Beylik's compatriot said about the young tennis player: "I see great potential in her and I think Sarah has a great future ahead of her. She is a really good player. For me it is good that I can train with her and for her I I hope it's good that she has the opportunity to train with me."
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