Roger Federer’s Stunt During A Mixed Doubles Match Had Twitter Going ‘Men Will Be Men’

For those not tuned in, the Hopman Cup is an annual international mixed doubles tennis tournament hosted by Australia. Tennis ace Roger Federer and partner Belinda Bencic, playing for Switzerland, faced off in the semi-final against United States’ Jack Sock and CoCo Vandeweghe. The match boasted of the highest attendance in Western Australian history for a tennis match. But there was something else that made it the talk of the town!

In a video clip from the match that is now going viral, Roger Federer and opponent Jack Sock can be seen completely usurping the game from their respective partners and playing a little set of their own. Now this would be okay, except, hello? Mixed DOUBLES?

https://twitter.com/rishibagree/status/952091874872840193

The two male players were engrossed in their testosterone-fueled frenzy, of course in the spirit of fun, and pretty much rendered their partners of no use. It was hard to miss how much they were enjoying it, what with their tweener shots and behind the back shots!

At one point, Federer’s partner Bencic just sat herself down on the court, waiting for the men to finish up their little showing off game.

Even Jack Sock’s partner Vandeweghe decided to walk off the court and wait for her turn.

Twitter was all over this, of course. Though, it presented quite the divided front.

While some simply called the stunt a direct extension of ‘men will be men’, others waited for the feminists to strike. And needless to say, nobody went home disappointed!

1. Hear hear!

Lmao men’s behavior wrapped in one video! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🔥🤣🤣

— DAVID IS THE NAME™ (@TheeKing_Dave) January 14, 2018

2. Yep, ego boost will do that to men.

I am sure their penises grew an inch, permanently. pic.twitter.com/xrgxlenawU

— Tante Tine (@creativedino) January 14, 2018

3. Wait, is this chivalry or…?

It’s a good sign!!!
“Women don’t stress yourselves, we got this”.

— I just pitied you and (@2steps__) January 14, 2018

4. I mean, even Chetan Bhagat took note!

Wow. Some tennis this is. https://t.co/cwAQ9bjzOt

— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) January 14, 2018

5. Triggered!

Feminist after seeing this pic.twitter.com/pu6StgPjI1

— ryan (@Ryannnn94) January 14, 2018

6. Call’em like you see them, sister!

😂😂 pic.twitter.com/449vlHHGaI

— Eyad (@Eyados93) January 14, 2018

7. Make a point. Not trouble.

This is so unfair 😣
I'm glad both women walked off the court the way they did…it made a point without making trouble

— Senku Ishigami 🔭 (@whimsicalgod) January 14, 2018

8. TBH, I wouldn’t have taken that!

I am a guy and actually this one made me think. If I was the one ignored like that I wouldn't be civil like those ladies were. You guys be rallying the ball like that till I smash my baton in someone's face 😐. No one ignores me like that. https://t.co/OsgoMIqGzo

— Seyi Onibudo (@sonibudo) January 14, 2018

9. Could this be just another case of #EverydaySexism?

Here is a video showcasing #toxicmasculinity. You can say “men will be men” or frown at this disgraceful behaviour from one of the greatest male tennis players of all time #everydaysexism https://t.co/zoHV57Y9tp

— Host #AngelicTroublemaker Podcast (HE/HIM) (@bisialimi) January 14, 2018

10. Not taking sides but…

As long as the women didn't feel undermined during the game, I'm good.

— the best beqs you'll ever have (@RebeqahAbe) January 15, 2018

For most people, this was merely some mid-match fun. A cliché case of boys will be boys, if you will. No harm, no foul, right?

But would it be wrong to assume that this little stunt could be laced with a touch of sexism and misogyny? Or are we that indoctrinated with feminism that we see smoke where there’s no fire?

Let’s just say, it’s open for interpretation.