MELBOURNE, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Rising tennis star Eugenie Bouchard is at the center of unwanted attention after her uncomfortable response to an interviewer's request for her to "twirl" for spectators at the Australian Open.
"Can you give us a twirl?" Ian Cohen of Tennis Australia asked the 20-year old Canadian after her second round victory over Kiki Bertens.
"A twirl?" she asked in reply.
"A twirl, like a pirouette." Cohen reiterated.
Visibly uncomfortable, the Wimbledon runner up complied, showwing off her pink tank-top and skirt with accenting yellow hat and sportswear. Cohen had earlier asked Serena Williams to show off for the crowd in similar fashion, a request Williams appeared more comfortable with.
"This is truly sexist," tweeted tennis legend and 1968 Australian Open champion Billie Jean King.
"If you ask the women, you have to ask the guys to twirl as well. Let's focus on competition and [the] accomplishments of genders and not our looks."
Bouchard described the whole interaction as "very unexpected" to CBC Sports after the match.
"I don't know, an old guy asking you to twirl. It was funny."
Bouchard has a history of awkward moments at the Australian Open. In 2014, the then-19-year-old drew sarcastic boos upon saying Justin Beiber would be her ideal date.