Tennis star slams sexist marketing and shares what sponsor ‘told her’

Sorana Cirstea slammed the sexist marketing in tennis (Image: Getty)Sorana Cirstea has slammed sexist marketing used in tennis as she claimed that greater emphasis was placed on looks instead of success and results on the tour. The current world No 38 revealed that she was previously told it was better to be ‘pretty’ and lower ranked instead of ‘ugly and world No 1’ in a new interview.Cirstea has hit out at the way marketing works for tennis players after alleging that she was told it was more beneficial to be good looking but lower-ranked. The Romanian shared her experience with sponsors on the La Fileu podcast as she explained which nation’s stars ‘sold’ the most.’I remember when I signed a contract with Adidas. All the time, and considering they thought I was good looking for an athlete, they told me: ‘It’s better to be pretty and be in the top 20 than to be ugly and be No 1,” the 32-year-old claimed.’If you’re in the top 20, you’re seen everywhere, you’re there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every week, every tournament.’ The former world No 21 was signed with Adidas from 2006 to 2016 before moving to New Balance. Express Sport has contacted Adidas for a response to Cirstea’s comments.JUST IN: Djokovic fires warning to seven rivals as he vows to ‘kick butts’ Sorana Cirstea is currently sponsored by New Balance (Image: Getty)Cirstea continued: ‘That’s when you realise that they have their quotas and that everything is about marketing. For example, the best paid stars are American, Chinese or Japanese. In Japan the highest paid player is [Naomi] Osaka, she has been the highest paid athlete in all sports in recent years.’It’s the market. Great Britain sells and Spain also sells. Eastern Europe doesn’t sell.’ Osaka recently topped the list of highest-earning female athletes compiled by Sportico despite playing just 23 matches this season.DON’T MISSAlcaraz makes Paris Masters decision after receiving test resultsNadal and Djokovic have Auger-Aliassime threat as he eyes 41-year featMurray gives retirement view after seeing Federer and Williams bow out Sorana Cirstea said Naomi Osaka was one of the most marketable (Image: Getty)