Game face: Sports reporters’ use of sexualized language in coverage of women’s professional tennis

Abstract

Tennis, female athletes in general, and the news media particularly have all evolved dramatically since the 1970s. Despite an equal number of players on the professional circuit and an equal number of tournaments on the professional circuit, female tennis players still have not received news media coverage comparable to male players. Furthermore, coverage of female players seems to focus more on demeanor, dress, and personal lifestyles and focus less on the on-court activities. This essay focuses on the type of coverage top female tennis players have received in newspapers throughout the country over the last 25 years.