TV host and journalist Julia Mengolini sparked controversy with her comments questioning the intellectual capacity of professional tennis players. During her program on Futurock radio, while commenting on the results of legislative elections, Mengolini referred to former tennis player and newly elected deputy Diego Hartfield: 'Tennis is a completely encapsulated sport. They only know a few words. I'm too smart to play tennis well. To be a professional, you have to be stupid'. These expressions quickly went viral on social media, drawing criticism from athletes, followers, and sports entities. Later, on her social media, Mengolini argued that her words had been 'a joke' and expressed surprise that they were 'taken so seriously'. In response to the uproar caused by the host's statements, the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) issued an official statement expressing its strong repudiation: 'The Argentine Tennis Association strongly repudiates the statements made by journalist Julia Mengolini, who in a recent public intervention affirmed that 'to be a tennis player you have to be stupid', an expression that we consider offensive, stigmatizing, and contrary to the spirit of respect that should guide public debate'. In its statement, the AAT highlighted that Argentine tennis is a space for the training of thousands of girls and boys, promoting values of effort, respect, camaraderie, and self-improvement, without distinction of class, gender, or origin. They also lamented that a communicator 'chooses to discredit those who practice and love this sport, instead of contributing to a constructive dialogue that promotes participation and equal opportunities'. They closed the text by reaffirming their commitment to a society where sport is 'a bridge and not a barrier'.
