Picture Credit: Twitter

Picture Credit: Twitter

16-year-old tennis player from the Czech Republic, Sarah Bejlek has apologized after her video of celebration with her father and coach attracted criticism. The Czechian said such incidents won’t happen again. However, she also took an indirect dig at the people criticizing her. Sara said she and her team will no longer be “rejoicing” the same way they did during US Open qualifying which resulted in negative criticism

While talking to the reporters on Tuesday after losing in her first round at the US Open, Sarah said that she saw the video that appeared to show her father Jaroslav Bejlek, and her coach Jakub Kahoun, patting her backside repeatedly after a qualifying match win on Friday. She explained the gesture saying it was a spontaneous reaction. 

“It was a spontaneous reaction of the whole team. We rejoiced,” Bejlek said. “It may certainly seem inconvenient and uncomfortable to some, but we have already discussed it with the team. It won’t happen again.” Sara further took a dig at the people of the United States saying that such an incident would not have had any impact on the people of the Czech Republic.



“Dad is my dad and always will be. And I’ve known the coach since I was 8 years old. He tapes me, he massages me,” Bejlek said. “If something similar happened in the Czech Republic, no one would deal with it. But since we are in America, everyone comments on it. But as I say, we talked and it won’t happen again.”

Notably, after the video went viral, people criticized the two men saying it was unnecessary. Few also demanded for action against the two. “There’s absolutely no reason to touch a 16 yo girl on her butt like that. It’s beyond inappropriate,” one person tweeted, per Daily Mail.

Another person reportedly wrote that the men were acting “creepy” with the teenage athlete. “The WTA needs to look into these especially since these young girls are traveling w men from a very young age. Also y’all can say its the dad or wtv, but does your dad touch your bum like that,” one person allegedly tweeted. 

However, there was also a section that found it normal. “It is pretty common in Czechia,” another person tweeted, per Daily Mail. “Not something I would do, but many men just don’t think about it in a sexual way. Google our Easter traditions, you might be shocked.”

Bejlek made her US Open main draw debut on Monday, losing to Ludmilla Samsonova in the first round, 6-1, 6-3.