Eugenie Bouchard: 'Twirl incident kind of funny'

Eugenie Bouchard has looked to deflect controversy after being asked to "give the crowd a twirl" by a presenter during the Australian Open.

The controversy occurred on Wednesday when the rising Canadian was being interviewed by Ian Cohen, with the incident attracting claims of sexism on both social networks and the wider media.

"I think it was just kind of funny," said Bouchard after she claimed victory in the fourth round, according to The AP.

"I'm fine with being asked to twirl if they ask the guys to flex their muscles."

One leading critic of the incident has been former world number one Billie Jean King, who has claimed that the request was "truly sexist".