Serena Williams

[Lostincovivi]

AIBU to think:

1. The disrespect Serena is because she is a black woman
2. In her early years in professional tennis, she called out racism - a sin no black person is ever forgiven for

Of course, in her early years, she was not always the most pleasant, but so is Federer

In the men’s game, Novak Djokovic has a similar record, and has also been disqualified from a Grand Slam tournament.

As a woman who follows tennis very closely, I can't stand that man. He's all charming and comedic, plays up the lovely chap persona to the audience and cameras.
Until he's losing, wherein he changes - almost instantly. He's rude and short with the ball kids, line judges. Chucks his racket around etc .., But apparently he's "passionate" about his sport and not "throwing a tantrum" like serena
See also Nick Kyrgios. He's spirited and "entertaining" when he throws his tantrums!

@WorraLiberty

Yes, most poor sportspeople have a list of achievements like this

I took the PP as meaning poor sportswoman as in 'poor sportsmanship'. Not her list of achievements?

Then again, I don't know much about tennis.

I don't suppose you need to know much about tennis to argue this point! Maybe the pp I was replying to could clarify?

I love her.

She's an incredible tennis player, but she can be a right moody madam as well.

Other people being badly behaved doesn't actually excuse her piss-poor behaviour. Djokovic is a nasty prick as well.

But yeah, it's all because of racism. Next people will be claiming it's because she's a mother, lord knows she milked that one enough.

@TokyoSushi

She's an incredible tennis player, but she can be a right moody madam as well.

All the current top male players have had incidents of losing their temper. Do you refer to them as moody madams?

Oh djockovic is an unbearable fucker too

Antivaxing psychopath

I think she's amazing.
!

I freaking love her. Shes amazing and I think a great role model. I remember getting really cross at my grandma years ago for making horrible comments about her "unfeminine" appearence and that women in tennis "should be tall, slim and feminine". It really riled me up, Serena a powerhouse of amazing!

Yes I think she gets a lot of unwarranted criticism for her physique too. She is very strong and powerful and that's how she is able to be the success that she is.

I always thought it said a lot that for years the highest earning tennis player was Sharapova, who in elite terms was fairly mediocre, just because of all the endorsements she had.

Serena Williams has been fantastic for women’s tennis. Her powerful game has made all the other female players raise their standards to be able to compete.
She can be bad tempered at times but so can many of the others, both make & female.

*male not make

I'd certainly refer to Djokovic as something similar!

As I say, incredible player though.

She's great. She has flaws just like everyone. Women are rude and shouty just like men. Who'd have thought it?

@Plonque

In the men’s game, Novak Djokovic has a similar record, and has also been disqualified from a Grand Slam tournament.

As a woman who follows tennis very closely, I can't stand that man. He's all charming and comedic, plays up the lovely chap persona to the audience and cameras.
Until he's losing, wherein he changes - almost instantly. He's rude and short with the ball kids, line judges. Chucks his racket around etc .., But apparently he's "passionate" about his sport and not "throwing a tantrum" like serena
See also Nick Kyrgios. He's spirited and "entertaining" when he throws his tantrums!

There's massive double standards when it comes to how women and men are treated in sports or when we get passionate about things. Black women have it even worse because they have that "angry black woman" stereotype on top of it

She’s a real person with real emotions, just like Andy Murray who has also faced criticism for what people perceived as his so called moodiness.
Anyone who wouldn’t crack under the microscope or with the pressure on court are either Saints or superhuman.
Let he who is without sin....

I don't think she's a particularly nice person. Very aggressive, arrogant and a sore loser, especially in her early days. She's mellowing now and I have more respect for what a great player she is.

If not liking someone for their personality is racism then I'm a racist.

Coco Guaff is fabulous though so I guess she must be white as I'm such a racist.

As you can see I hate this type of nonsensical thread

Next people will be claiming it's because she's a mother, lord knows she milked that one enough. I think your misigyny is showing. The physiology of her return the tennis is gobsmackng. Something men do not have to contend with!

Gauff, Bloody autocorrect

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Next people will be claiming it's because she's a mother, lord knows she milked that one enough. I think your misigyny is showing. The physiology of her return the tennis is gobsmackng. Something men do not have to contend with!

Nope.

Like I said, it's easy to try to justify someone being an arrogant arsehole by saying "oh, it's because people are racist/misogynist/sexist etc".

Sometimes people are just awful human beings regardless of labels, and Serena is one of those. Yes, she is a great tennis player but she is by no means a good role model.

I think most talented sports people are rude arrogant asshats. She’s no exception. Fabulous at the game but a dick when on a mood.

Why are you only referring to her younger years. Some of her recent behaviour had been despicable. She's been married and had her daughter, but still continued with recent unsporting conduct.

I doubt that retiring types who say ^"a foot fault, oh I'm terribly sorry I didn't realise" get to that level in tennis.

@Lostincovivi

Strange, most who dislike her are white than black

@Lostincovivi

Sorry but how do you know this? Have you asked all tennis fans oreven a statistically significant sample?

Amazing that most other players can treat the officials with respect, isn't it?

A person threatening to shove a tennis ball down an officials throat is, strangely enough, not the mark of a good role model.