Andre Agassi’s a bit skeptical about fashion models in skimpy outfits replacing ball boys at the Madrid Masters.
”I suppose I need some time to let it absorb,” Agassi said on Tuesday after beating Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-6 (5), 6-3 at the indoor tournament.
”I think it’s important for our sport to understand its product clearly. And I’m not quite convinced it’s part of our product.”
Women in black tank tops and white, knee-length skirts chased errant shots and handed towels to the players. Reportedly paid $1 100 for the week, the women are appearing in one televised match each day.
”It was difficult, to say the least, to concentrate on the ball,” Agassi said.
”But I suppose I had an advantage. I’m used to playing with my wife” — Steffi Graf.
Although the models have made no major errors during their first two matches, they have been seen to have some difficulty in bending down fast to pick up the balls.
”The skirts look like they’re a little difficult to run in,” Agassi said.
”I think they need to be shorter, maybe.”
The use of the models has caused a stir in Spain, producing no shortage of both supporters and critics.
The government’s Secretary for Equality, Soledad Murillo, called on tournament organisers to stop using the models, saying on Tuesday it portrayed women as ”merely objects of decoration and entertainment”.
Albert Costa, another competitor at the, said he thought it was a good thing and noticed no difference. – Sapa-AP