Serena Williams, a tennis icon with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, finds herself once again facing criticism based on her age and weight. This time, the culprit is Ion Țiriac, owner of the Madrid Open and a former Olympic tennis player. Țiriac’s comments sparked outrage, particularly from Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, who fiercely defended his wife on social media.

Țiriac, in a recent interview with Romanian television, suggested Williams should retire due to her “age and current weight,” implying these factors hinder her athletic ability. He further stated that “if she was a little more polite she would retire.” These remarks echo similar comments Țiriac made in 2018, suggesting Williams’ age (then 36) and weight were limitations.

Williams has previously addressed such remarks, calling them “ignorant” and “sexist.” However, this time, it was Ohanian who took center stage, wielding his social media platform to defend his wife.

Ohanian’s response was swift and unforgiving. He called Țiriac a “racist and sexist clown with a platform” and a “clown” altogether. He further mocked Țiriac’s lack of Grand Slam singles titles, highlighting that even his young daughter boasts more victories.

The exchange didn’t end there. When a Twitter user attempted to defend Țiriac, Ohanian doubled down, urging the user to “keep defending your racist, sexist clown.”

Ohanian’s strong stance resonated with many. Țiriac’s comments were widely criticized as outdated and insensitive, highlighting the persistent issue of sexism and ageism faced by female athletes.

This incident is a reminder of the challenges women in sports encounter, even those at the pinnacle of their careers like Serena Williams. While Țiriac’s remarks may be dismissed as irrelevant considering Williams’ 23 Grand Slams, they raise awareness of the need for a more inclusive and respectful environment in professional sports.

It’s also worth noting that despite his criticism of Williams, Țiriac’s own tennis career yielded no Grand Slam singles titles, with his highest achievement being a doubles title in 1970.