Serena Williams - Heroine Or Villain ?

[Jaidyn]

After her ‘performance ‘ tonight how should history recall Serena Williams
I for one , although admiring her tennis skills and power am fed up and embarrassed by her tantrums and sulks - and then trying to justify her actions by saying it’s all about her gender !
I have always thought she was not a genuine person , I much prefer her sister Venus , perhaps less skilled but seemingly gracious even in defeat

[webbo3]

Rockrose
\\And yet when a male player in the 70/80s behaved the same he is remembered with fondness.//

I can't recall him calling the referee a name, he may have argued, moaned, smashed his racket, but as far as I'm aware he never called the referee a name.

[New Judge]

"...but as far as I'm aware he never called the referee a name."

If you're talking about J P McEnroe, in his famous exchange with the umpire, Edward James, at Wimbledon in 1981, he did refer to him (and others) as "the absolute pits of the world". Full quote here;

“You can’t be serious, man. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! That ball was on the line! Chalk flew up! It was clearly in! You guys are the absolute pits of the world…”

I gave up watching "Ladies'" tennis some years ago.

[margarettom]

Hi dillydo. I wasn't suggesting the game docking wasn't justified, I was just pointing out that she was appropriately punished for her bad behaviour, ( fines are a waste of time), so it might stop her behaving so badly again. Also, if Nick Kyrigos was treated similarly ( if he behaved as badly) it would negate her accusation of sexism.
I am quite sure she will be handed out a ban as well, which will hurt. I actually admire Serena's persistence,but her behaviour at times is unacceptable.

[margarettom]

Just checked it out and Kyrigos was docked a game in the 2014 American Open, so both sexes treated the same.

[New Judge]

Of course it could be argued that the one game she was docked (out of the three sets maximum they must play) is a harsher penalty than a game in a match of five sets. Perhaps the Ladies should only be docked three-fifths of a game. But there is s simpler answer.

[anneasquith]

Obviously had a dreadful game, but I fail to recognise this female tyrant with the petulant behaviour from the past. 're men's tennis in the 70'e McEnroe was the most entertainingly to watch, unlike his peer group who were so robotic .

[Peter Pedant]

it is all about
can they win games ?

er OK she didnt last night - I am sorry that 'coach' didnt say - come one Serena, it is Osaka's night
( and serene wd ve said - that is what I am in a temper about)

I remember all the good rugby and football players at skool
and they were AWFUL
and the better ( county - region - national ) they got the worse it got

[Peter Pedant]

// I gave up watching "Ladies'" tennis some years ago.//

and you miss all the wardrobe malfuntions ? Didnt Peaches Barkovitz er slip out one year - and the Sun chortled New B**bs!

[Butterbun]

A bit of a villain in this case. It's seems to only happen at the US open, can't remember her melting down at other grand slams.

[anotheoldgit]

Why she is allowed to play in 'LADIES' tennis, I just don't know.

[retrocop]

Mr aog
She's recently had a bay bee. So she qualifies. :-)

[anneasquith]

I don't think it's necessary to have a baby to be female. !!!!!

[Peter Pedant]

lady asquith
I don't think it's necessary to have a baby to be female. !!!!!

yeah but no but - if one has - its pretty conclusive

In a Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1907 the heroines neighbour keeps on saying - "I'm gonna git a baby"
but she looks pretty flat to the heroine
becuse she is taking on a soon to be born waif ...
and then has to confess to her busband....

[Neveracrossword]

Butterbun, Serena also got fined at Wimbledon in 2016 - for smashing and throwing her racket.

[retrocop]

Well if you are personally going to conceive a baby it helps to have lady's bits I would of thought.

[jim360]

Butterbun, I believe that Serena also had a few problems at the Australian Open almost 10 years back. Normally she's pretty reasonably-behaved, as far as I've seen, though. So this seems out of character, and I guess she lost her cool in the heat of the moment and all that.

I'm in no way condoning the behaviour, and anyone who goes off on one like that to the Umpire deserves what they get. I'm not sure that McEnroe and Connors are worthwhile comparisons: it was a different era, and I have a feeling that standards of behaviour are more strictly enforced these days than earlier, for whatever reason.

[jackthehat]

This is the Sport section and *not* the misogyny section.....

SW is a supreme competitor and after an extremely challenging year she had a meltdown during a hugely important match.
She, not unreasonably, feels that she gets the fuzzy-end of the lolly-pop during competitions at Flushing Meadows and vented her frustration.
It would be better if she hadn't but men really are forgiven their trangressions, on the tennis courts, far more quickly and indulgently than the women.

[sivam]

Coach admitted giving coaching signals during match which is against the rules. A ban for a spell might give them food for thought.Both behaved badly. Osaka was very dignified throughout this display.

[zebo]

"Perhaps the Ladies should only be docked three-fifths of a game". They should also get 3/5 of the payout.

[New Judge]

"They should also get 3/5 of the payout."

Please don't start me off! It's Sunday !!! :-)