Sexism storm at Wimbledon as BBC’s Boris Becker calls star’s partner ‘very pretty’ 

Fault! New sexism storm at Wimbledon as BBC’s Boris Becker calls star’s partner ‘very pretty’

  • Boris Becker commented on the attractiveness of a Wimbledon player’s fiancee
  • The pundit, 53, had spotted Hungarian Marton Fucsovics’ partner in the stands
  • As Anett Boszormenyi, 29, flashed up on screen, he said she was ‘very pretty’ 
  • The BBC defended Becker, claiming that he had made a ‘light-hearted’ remark  


The BBC was embroiled in yet another Wimbledon sexism row last night after Boris Becker commented on the attractiveness of a player’s fiancee.

The pundit had spotted Marton Fucsovics’ partner in the stands as the Hungarian took on defending champ Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.

As Anett Boszormenyi, 29, flashed up on the screen, Becker remarked: ‘They do say they have the most beautiful women in Hungary. I wouldn’t know that, but she’s certainly very pretty.’

It comes after fellow commentator John McEnroe provoked anger earlier in the week by suggesting British teenager Emma Raducanu couldn’t handle the pressure at SW19.

The BBC was embroiled in yet another Wimbledon sexism row last night after Boris Becker (pictured) commented on the attractiveness of a player’s fiancee

The BBC last night defended three-time champion Becker, 53 – claiming that he had made a ‘light-hearted’ remark and did not intend to offend.

Becker was commentating alongside John Inverdale, who refrained from commenting on Miss Boszormenyi – having previously been slammed for saying French star Marion Bartoli was not a ‘looker’ and would ‘never be a [Maria] Sharapova’.

Instead he offered a net gag, saying: ‘That’s quite a good name for the partner of a tennis player, it’s always good to have a partner called Anett.

‘I’d like to thank my Christmas cracker from 1978 for that joke.’

Stephanie Hilborne, CEO of Women in Sport, last night condemned Becker’s remarks.

‘The charity Women in Sport has worked for decades to change sporting culture, including to end the objectification of women,’ she said. ‘When two men are comfortable talking about women in this way, never mind on live TV, it shows there is still more to do.

The pundit, 53, had spotted Marton Fucsovics' partner Anett Boszormenyi, 29, in the stands and called her 'very pretty' as the Hungarian took on defending champ Novak Djokovic

The pundit, 53, had spotted Marton Fucsovics’ partner Anett Boszormenyi, 29, in the stands and called her ‘very pretty’ as the Hungarian took on defending champ Novak Djokovic

‘We need everyone to understand how this impacts on women and girls. Shouldn’t we be inspiring the next generation of girls to play sport rather than talking about what women look like?’

One Twitter user referenced Inverdale’s past gaffe, saying: ‘Looks like she passed his ‘looker’ test.’ Another fan tweeted: ‘It is turning a bit dirty old men brigade isn’t it?’

Fucsovics lost his quarter-final to Djokovic in straight sets.

On Monday, McEnroe had suggested Miss Raducanu, 18, retired from her fairytale Wimbledon run because the pressure became a ‘little bit too much’.

But Sir Andy Murray and his mother Judy leapt to the teenage star’s defence.

The BBC claimed McEnroe had been ‘sympathetic to Emma’s situation’ and was speaking from his own experience.