Billie Jean King brands interviewer's 'twirl request' at Oz Open 'truly sexist'

A male interviewer asking Serena Williams and Eugenie Bouchard to 'give a twirl' at the Australian Open has been branded as 'truly sexist' by tennis legend Billie Jean King.

The women's world number one and the Canadian tennis ace were asked to show off their outfits to the crowd after second-round wins in Melbourne.

King, who won the Australian Open in 1968, posted on Twitter that the Australian Open interviewer asking the women to twirl on court was out of line, adding that this was truly sexist, claiming that if one asks the women, then they have to ask the guys as well, the BBC reported.

The twelve-time Grand Slam champion added that they should focus on accomplishments of both genders and not their looks.

American world number one Williams was reluctant to describe the exchange with a Tennis Australia commentator as sexist despite a strong reaction on social media.

Williams claimed that she wouldn't ask Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer to twirl, adding that she doesn't know whether it's sexist or not. She said that she didn't really want to twirl because she was just like she doesn't need all the extra attention.

Canada's Bouchard called the commentator's twirl request very unexpected, adding that she meant it was funny with an old guy asking her to twirl.