Comments on: Serena Williams: Tiresome drama queen?

By: Sochi

Sochi — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:28:41 +0000

Serena is my favorite sports woman.

By: Leiyomi lollyer

Leiyomi lollyer — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:07:46 +0000

So Serena was wrong for wanting a point that would have no doubt been given to her opponent had the situation been reversed??? Nobody would have taken Serena’s side the way people took the other girls side, I suppose Serena was supposed to shut up and give away points. And whether Serena hit the ball at the girl or not isn’t the point. The rule says that if the ball hits your body you automatically lose the point. It’s the defender’s job to either get out of the way or make contact with their racket, it’s not up for debate. But I get it, Serena is forever going to be labeled the bully or treated like she has some unfair advantage just because of her God given strong physique. People treat her like she is a man playing little girls when in fact she deals with more “womanly issues during play than most. If it’s not the menstrual migraines, the D cups killing her back, the big booty that never leaves no matter how small she is, it’s the constant badgering about her weight. I swear, I’ve never seen an athlete be ripped to shreds in the media for being too muscular, then in the very next headline be called too fat. What kind of sense does that make? Also, how can anyone feel that Serena needs to prove herself to be number 1 when the current number hasn’t proved a damn thing and somehow that’s ok just because she plays a lot??? It may not be all about the slams, but you should at least be able to win one before you are able to call yourself number 1. Does number 1 no longer stand for the best? Any system that allows a TENNIS player to be ranked #1 without a slam doesn’t deserve to be respected. Neither does anybody defending such a system or throwing shade at Serena for being herself and not a politician lying to you for votes.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:24:04 +0000

From Jon Wertheim’s French Open roundup:

• Go ahead and call Serena Williams a drama queen. But let the record reflect that she was correct: the ball really hit Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Likewise Serena was correct in questioning the line calls that went against her during that Jennifer Capriati match at the U.S. Open. And she was correct: Justine Henin indicated a let, only to play dumb when she won the point. And her recent questioning of Dinara Safina’s bona fides may not have been the height of tact, but it wasn’t exactly invalidated either….
——————————————————
Its a well known tactic MANY players have used to go straight at the opponent. If you are willing to come to net then you need to expect it.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:02:07 +0000

Serena is in the wrong here…firing a ball at her opponent is just wrong. Forget the replay…yes the ball hit the Spanish player. But the rule is that players lose the point if they “touch” the ball…someone firing the ball at you isn’t your fault.

The rule was made to prevent people from hitting the ball over the net with their hand…but watching the replay it appeared the ball hit the Spanish player’s racket before going back over the net.

So, even if Serena is “technically” right she merely exposed a loophole. The rule needs to be changed. I can see it now in the future when players intentionally hit each other. In baseball, plunking a batter is a foul…iunless the player being hit moves in front of it intentionally. It should be up to the umpire to determine whether the batter or player intentionally got hit, or if the person firing the shot was responsible for the plunking.

By: lacharlie13

lacharlie13 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:48:03 +0000

the rule is:never complain;never explain

By: Phantom

Phantom — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:41:27 +0000

Serena invites the drama in herself. I think it’s true and apparently so does she. I agree that she has every right to complain if she thinks someone did something wrong (much like Blake vs Gonzalez at last year’s Olympics). But the real reason for this article is about her constant “issues” with people, tournaments, and the tour.

If she loses, she puts blame on the tour with the hectic schedule or her lack of ability to play well despite her opponent’s skills (like the latest loss to Kuznetsova). Listen to and read her comments:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2009-06-03/200906031244046391110.html

Then listen to Kuznetsova:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2009-06-03/200906031244048169919.html

Even the last time she lost a big match (vs Azarenka in Miami) she was an ungracious loser.

So it is hard for the media to not give her this rap because she displays it constantly. Her last 3 losses (Marbella, Rome, and Madrid) are great examples where she blames the tour for the packed schedule. I agree it is a very long, greuling schedule for any player. But she has no right to complain about this. Ever since 2003, the most she played in one year was 12 tournaments. Many top players play 15+. She does not have a right to claim fatigue. At most she plays 17 weeks out of a 42 weeks tennis tour.

The tour is meant to be that long so players have the option to pick and choose what they want to play while gearing up for the Big 4. If players only played the 4 Grand Slams, then tennis wouldn’t be what it is today. Using someone’s Baseball analogy, would baseball be just as interesting if teams only played the Playoffs? (who would pick the teams to go?)

It’s one thing to “believe” you are number one… it’s another thing to “show” you are by getting to finals and winning tournaments.

By: Steven Martin

Steven Martin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:08:01 +0000

Serena is a world class athlete and tennis player but she has no class or sportsmanship. She is a very sore loser who never gives credit to her opponent. True to form when she lost in the French quarterfinals she said the loss was due to what she did rather than anything her opponent did. Oh really? I watched the match and Serena got whipped because her opponent was more aggressive and put Serena on the defensive. Also Serena’s footwork was out of sync. Serena won’t get the number one ranking by crying and moaning that she should be #1. She has to prove it on the court. She has to get it out of her mind that she has an “entitlement” to the number ranking. Despite how mant grand slams she wins she will never be considered on of the great champions until she gets some class and humility.

By: etf

etf — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:02:52 +0000

A more fair and balance article might discuss why others feel a need to cheat to beat the Williamses, especially when on each occasion of “drama” there is video evidence that supports the Williamses claims…but instead we get a leading headline that makes Serena look like the bad sport. Pity.

By: Hako

Hako — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:53:49 +0000

You can’t treat reaching number one as an accomplishment when YOU do it, then dismiss it someone else when they reaches it. It’s hypocritical. Serena lost today in the quarter final to Kuznetsova. She has lost in the quarter finals of several Grand Slams in the last couple of years….mostly to Justine. So, she isn’t as dominant as she pretends to be. Also, Serena FIRED that ball into her opponent, who could do nothing but duck and cover…..and it’s her opponent who cheated?
Serena said she “felt bad” for hitting her. Right. She knew all she had to do is hit her opponent with the ball to get the point, and that’s what she did. She was just irritated when her “accidental” shot didn’t pay off. I admire and respect Venus because of she has serious game….and quiet composure and dignity. Not true of Serena.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:25:19 +0000

That ball did hit that girl’s arm and Serena was right to call her out on it. The only drama going on here is this article