Was Serena Williams justified to react the way she did in the final of the 2018 US Open?

[BlackShadow]

What drama, Serena gets broken in the 2nd set, wants chair umpire to say sorry, then calls him a thief and crying and making a scene now after a game penalty. Crazy!!

 

[BlackShadow]

Kid smashes Serena in straight sets, wins the title and all you hear from American crowd is loud booooos. Classless.

Congrats to Osaka, the reason I will start watching women's tennis again. A true heir to Serena!

 

[BlackShadow]

Presentation ceremony and even louder boos now ! Osaka crying because she doesn't know what's her fault.

 

[Varun]

Instead of having the greatest triumph of her career, Serena Williams had her ugliest moment.

And she has herself to blame.

Williams melted down in stunning fashion at the US Open final Saturday afternoon with a tantrum over repeated code violations. It diminished her, helped cost her a record 24th Grand Slam title and, worst of all, robbed Naomi Osaka of the spotlight she so richly deserved for winning her first title.

Williams likes to pride herself on being a role model, the elder stateswoman not just of her game but in all of sports. Yet as Williams repeatedly berated chair umpire Carlos Ramos, calling him a thief and demanding he apologize to her, she looked anything but.

You can believe that Ramos overreached in assessing Williams her second and third penalties, which cost her a point and then a game in the second set. You can also believe that Williams overreacted, losing control of her emotions in a match in which she was already frustrated.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...behave-like-champion-us-open-loss/1243879002/

 

[Varun]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"She is doing a terrible disservice to women's rights, to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/metoo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#metoo</a> movement, to gender equality," Caroline Wilson says of <a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@serenawilliams</a>'s comments after her <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USOpen</a> final loss.<br><br>"What she is is a bad sport... she's not fighting for women's rights, that is a joke."<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Offsiders?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Offsiders</a> <a href="https://t.co/6JSgGhl44K">pic.twitter.com/6JSgGhl44K</a></p>— Offsiders ABC (@OffsidersABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/OffsidersABC/status/1038581924543913984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BlackShadow]

My respect for Serena has gone down massively. She had a meltdown because this 20 year old future legend made her look like a helpless old woman and she can't accept that. Her and the classless American crowd spoiled the big day for a remarkably sweet Osaka, that's sad.

 

[Abdullah719]

Serena Williams accuses umpire of sexism and vows to 'fight for women'

Serena Williams has accused an umpire of sexism and treating her more harshly than men as she used a press conference to double down on her earlier on-court tirade at the official during her US Open final defeat to Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

Williams was cited by official Carlos Ramos for three code violations during her 6-2, 6-4 loss to the 20-year-old Osaka on Saturday: for getting coaching signals; for breaking her racket, which cost her a point; and for calling the chair umpire a thief, which cost her a game.

But despite the match penalties, she renewed her attack at a media conference later.

“I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things,” she said. “I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief,’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said ‘thief’.

“For me, it blows my mind,” Williams said. “But I’m going to continue to fight for women.”

Earlier, as Williams pleaded her case on court with tournament referee Brian Earley, calling the penalties unfair, she said: “Because I’m a woman, you’re going to take this away from me?”

Two-time Australian Open champion and two-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka backed up Williams’ stance, writing on Twitter : “If it was men’s match, this wouldn’t happen like this. It just wouldn’t.”

Billie Jean King, who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and helped found the women’s tennis tour and pave the way for equal prize money in the sport, also commented via Twitter on what happened Saturday.

“Several things went very wrong during the US Open women’s finals today,” King wrote. “Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen.”

In a second tweet, King said: “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ & and there are no repercussions. Thank you (Serena Williams) for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”

Williams’ supporters could point to recent examples of how tennis has treated women differently to men.

Just before the US Open, the French tennis federation president said that the black catsuit worn this year by Williams at the French Open would not be allowed at that tournament in the future. During the US Open, a female player, Alize Cornet, was incorrectly admonished by a chair umpire for changing her shirt during a match, which is allowed and which men do all the time. And the US Tennis Association created a new rule last week that allows for a 10-minute break in men’s matches when the heat and humidity are too harsh; previously, only women were given that chance for a delay.

“I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions, and that want to express themselves, and want to be a strong woman. They’re going to be allowed to do that because of today,” Williams said. “Maybe it didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.”

Williams has fallen foul of officials before, most notably when she launched a tirade for a penalty in the final against Australian player Sam Stosur at Flushing Meadows seven years ago.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ficials-of-sexism-and-vows-to-fight-for-women

 

[Arham_PakFan]

She lost her cool. Not good.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No one deserves to win your 1st major with the sound of booing around! Serena should have handled the situation better. Give the young girl her moment in the spotlight. All professional athletes have moments where we feel hard done by, u keep your head down & try to fight it out</p>— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17/status/1038719352521089024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gabbar Singh]

What a vile individual she is. Even her own coach admitted that he was coaching her. Feel sorry for her opponent, she ruined her big day.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

And why does Serena and her devotees keep on going on about being a mother to a little girl as if she's the only professional woman on the planet who has a child. She probably hires a 24/7 nanny anyway. These celebrities are so entitled and egotistical.

 

[Maverick84]

I have never seen somebody been awarded a whole game! So ridiculous! who does he think he is? Ruined the final. Yes she called him a thief, but chairpersons have been called worse but no one has ever awarded a game.

Felt sorry for Osaka. She didn’t deserve that. Poor behavior from the crowd.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Serena Williams has been fined a total of $17,000 for three code violations during the U.S. Open final.</p>— The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1038817210540744705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BlackShadow]

I have never seen somebody been awarded a whole game! So ridiculous! who does he think he is? Ruined the final. Yes she called him a thief, but chairpersons have been called worse but no one has ever awarded a game.

Felt sorry for Osaka. She didn’t deserve that. Poor behavior from the crowd.

Third court violation leads to a game penalty. What part is ridiculous? A few game penalties for you, from 2017 -

Spoiler

 

[Kroll]

Quite a few of the tennis fraternity have come out in support of Serena. Although she has every right to be aggrieved, I don't think her ranting and raving reflected well on her. She's not only a national icon in the US but a world superstar for all she has achieved much against the odds. It is easy to say that she could have conducted herself better but I do think some of her reaction was well over the top. Feel for the young Japanese winner as the bizzare events unfolded and she was in tears at the presentation ceremony.

 

[Pakistanian]

At first I thought she was at fault but then I saw clips of male tennis players and some white female tennis players doing worse to the EXACT same ref.

So I'm on the fence about this, she shouldn't have had a meltdown and ruined Osaka's night but the ref was clearly biaed even if he didn't subconsciously.

 

[Rayyman]

Kid smashes Serena in straight sets, wins the title and all you hear from American crowd is loud booooos. Classless.

Congrats to Osaka, the reason I will start watching women's tennis again. A true heir to Serena!

Umm dude half the crowd isn't even American. They're mostly tourists.

 

[BlackShadow]

At first I thought she was at fault but then I saw clips of male tennis players and some white female tennis players doing worse to the EXACT same ref.

So I'm on the fence about this, she shouldn't have had a meltdown and ruined Osaka's night but the ref was clearly biaed even if he didn't subconsciously.

This is the same chair umpire who has given a hard time to even the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. There is no bias, he simply enforces the rules in a strict manner.

 

[BlackShadow]

Umm dude half the crowd isn't even American. They're mostly tourists.

I doubt that half the crowd were tourists, and even if they were, I am quite certain that they wouldn't ruin a kid's night for Serena. All the boos came from the locals.

 

[Rayyman]

I doubt that half the crowd were tourists, and even if they were, I am quite certain that they wouldn't ruin a kid's night for Serena. All the boos came from the locals.

They cheered for Naomi in trophy presentation

The booing was only for the ref

 

[BlackShadow]

They cheered for Naomi in trophy presentation

The booing was only for the ref

Post-match ceremony had nothing to do with the referee. It was all about crowning the champion and the crowd turned things ugly, leaving Naomi in tears. It was both needless and classless.

 

[Pakistanian]

This is the same chair umpire who has given a hard time to even the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. There is no bias, he simply enforces the rules in a strict manner.

You're wrong tho, he didn't dock their points or cost them a game.

 

[finalfantasy7]

She was being coached, umpire did the right thing.
Typical Serena, blabbing her mouth off, women rights, umpire cheated her--all a load of crap

 

[Slog]

What a sore loser

If the opponent was different she would have also brought the racism card along with the woman card she has already played

 

[giri26]

It was unnecessary rant by Serena Williams. She did not expect to be beaten in the final at home and when Osaka started to play well she just lost her cool. It was really poor by the fans as well to boo the open winner. Poor Osaka was not even able to celebrate her achievement and was seen crying after the game. All in all very poor by Williams and the stadium crowd.

 

[BlackShadow]

You're wrong tho, he didn't dock their points or cost them a game.

I am not. You should look up.

 

[Varun]

WTA chief decries double standards in US Open Serena row

New York (AFP) - WTA Tour chief executive Steve Simon Sunday backed Serena Williams's claim that sexism played a role in the code violations that sparked her US Open final meltdown.

Williams was handed three code violations -- and docked a point and then a game -- in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in the Flushing Meadows final

Osaka out-played her childhood hero to become the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam, but her accomplishment was swamped in the controversy surrounding 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams.

The American superstar claimed that chair umpire Carlos Ramos meted out penalties for infractions that male players could have gotten away with.

"Yesterday also brought to the forefront the question of whether different standards are applied to men and women in the officiating of matches," Simon said in a statement.

"The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same.

"We do not believe that this was done last night."

Williams was most incensed by the first code violation she received -- for coaching from her box.

It's not clear if she even saw the hand gestures by coach Patrick Mouratoglou sitting her box, and Simons said the sport as a whole should examine the rules on coaching.

"We also think the issue of coaching needs to be addressed and should be allowed across the sport," he said.

"The WTA supports coaching through its on-court coaching rule, but further review is needed.

"Yesterday's match showcased one of tennis' new stars as well as one of the greatest players of the game," Simon concluded.

"We look forward to more thrilling matches between these great athletes and hope that what we all witnessed yesterday never happens again."

https://sports.yahoo.com/wta-chief-decries-double-standards-us-open-serena-010254006--ten.html

 

[Hitman]

Her coach himself admitted that he was indeed coaching her. And then she has the nerve to create all that drama. Why? Simply because the referee was doing his job?

Sore loser!

 

[IMMY69]

Her coach himself admitted that he was indeed coaching her. And then she has the nerve to create all that drama. Why? Simply because the referee was doing his job?

Sore loser!

Do you have the actual quote from the coach?

I only ask because in the Guardian article above Billie Jean King says how can you stop a coach trying to give signals and why should the player suffer?

 

[giri26]

Australian newspaper doubles down on racist Serena Williams cartoon

An Australian newspaper is standing by a cartoon of Serena Williams widely denounced as racist both at home and in the US.

In a statement Tuesday, Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston said the cartoon "had nothing to do with gender or race."

"A champion tennis player had a mega tantrum on the world stage, and (the) cartoon depicted that," he said, referring to a piece published by cartoonist Mark Knight Monday after the US Open final in which Williams had a dispute with the umpire over his allegedly sexist treatment of her.

The cartoon showed Williams jumping up and down next to a broken racket and pacifier, with large, exaggerated lips and nose reminiscent of racist depictions of black people in the US during the Jim Crow era.

Williams' opponent, Japan's Naomi Osaka, is depicted as a skinny blonde woman, to whom the umpire is saying: "Can't you just let her win?"
The US-based National Association of Black Journalists said the cartoon was "repugnant on many levels."

"(It) not only exudes racist, sexist caricatures of both women, but Williams' depiction is unnecessarily sambo-like," the group said in a statement. "The art of editorial cartooning is a visual dialogue on the issues of the day, yet this cartoon grossly inaccurately depicts two women of color at the US Open, one of the grandest stages of professional sports."

Angry reaction

Knight -- an award-winning cartoonist who has worked for the Herald Sun for decades -- told his employer he was "amazed" by the reaction to the cartoon, which he said did not attract significant criticism until it was picked up on Twitter by users in the US.

"It's been picked up by social media in the US and my phone has just melted down," he said. "The world has just gone crazy."

Criticism was voiced from within Australia however, where the furore comes after months of hand-wringing and criticism over the country's attitudes towards race after a neo-Nazi was invited on air by a national broadcaster.

"I take no pleasure in saying this, but, right now, it feels like there has never been a more exciting time to be a dog-whistling politician or race-baiting commentator in Australia," outgoing Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said last month.

On Twitter, Australian author Benjamin Law compared headlines from American newspapers which "matter-of-factly" described Knight's cartoon as racist to coverage within his country.

"It isn't a subjective call," he said. "Embarrassing to see the Herald Sun doesn't realise defending Knight's cartoon supports the case swathes of Australian media is blind to its own racism."

This isn't the first time Knight's work has been criticized in this manner. A cartoon from August 10 was widely denounced after it depicted faceless black figures destroying a Melbourne subway station, echoing a caricature of African gang crime in the city which is not supported by statistics.

"The racist vilification of Melburnians from the Herald Sun continues apace," local lawmaker Rohan Leppert wrote in response to that cartoon. "Utterly shameful."

Lack of representation

Despite Australia's proud multiculturalism and the fact that today one in four Australians were born abroad, the upper strata of society remains predominantly white.

According to a report by the Australian Human Rights Commission earlier this year, 95% "of senior leaders in Australia have an Anglo-Celtic or European background."

In business, the report found there was "a combined total of 11 chief executives who have a non-European or Indigenous background," or 3% of the total.

Indigenous people are especially under-represented, and have themselves been the subject of racist cartoons in the Australian press.
Knight was denounced for a 2012 cartoon published on Australia Day, which marks the start of European colonization of the continent, while the late Bill Leak was frequently criticized for his portrayals of Indigenous people.

While the US has deep racial divides and ongoing issues related to the legacy of slavery and post-reconstruction discrimination, it is more diverse than Australia. Non-white people make up over 23% of the population, and 11% of Members of Congress are people of color. The voices of non-white people are also more prominent in the US media than Australia's.

On Twitter, Australian musician Eddie Perfect, who is based in the US, reflected on this difference after he received some criticism for calling out Knight's cartoon.

"Got about 200 tweets from Aussies angry I 'spoke for them'," he said. "This cartoon hit hard in the US. Things are VERY different here, where image, race, history and struggle are REAL."

In a follow up tweet, Perfect said he frequently hears comments from Americans about Australians being racist "and it stings."

"(It) stings because it's a generalisation, but also because it's often true," he added. "You don't have to look hard to see and hear it. And today's cartoon SHOCKED Americans."

Australian broadcaster Neil Mitchell took the opposite tack on his morning radio show on Melbourne-based 3AW.

Following an interview with the cartoonist, he said the reaction "shows an awful misunderstanding of Mark Knight and this country."

"I looked at that cartoon and it didn't even cross my mind it was about race," he said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/11/australia/australia-racist-cartoon-serena-intl/index.html

 

[Hitman]

Do you have the actual quote from the coach?

I only ask because in the Guardian article above Billie Jean King says how can you stop a coach trying to give signals and why should the player suffer?

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/ten...ou-coaching-Williams-US-Open-final-fury-Osaka

 

[IMMY69]

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/ten...ou-coaching-Williams-US-Open-final-fury-Osaka

Ok so he says he’s was coaching but didn’t think Serena was watching and he adds that his opposite number was also coaching his player.....

I definitely think there’s double standards here.

 

[IMMY69]

Do you have the actual quote from the coach?

I only ask because in the Guardian article above Billie Jean King says how can you stop a coach trying to give signals and why should the player suffer?

Sorry but knowing the facts I have to label this post as “Fake News”.

 

[Hitman]

Ok so he says he’s was coaching but didn’t think Serena was watching and he adds that his opposite number was also coaching his player.....

I definitely think there’s double standards here.

Well, the referee has to go by the rules of the game. Coaching during a game is banned, and Serena's coach was doing it actively. The referee spotted that, and he acted according to the rules. And if her opponent's coach was indeed coaching her, it's no justification for Serena's coach to do the same. Fact is the referee spotted Serena's coach doing something against the rules of the game.

 

[Robert]

It was poor behaviour by Williams. Should have finished the match before lodging an official complaint against the ump.

 

[IMMY69]

Well, the referee has to go by the rules of the game. Coaching during a game is banned, and Serena's coach was doing it actively. The referee spotted that, and he acted according to the rules. And if her opponent's coach was indeed coaching her, it's no justification for Serena's coach to do the same. Fact is the referee spotted Serena's coach doing something against the rules of the game.

Whilst I am not disputing what you are saying here but reading about this in various papers there does appear to be a bias against women.

Serena was wrong too. I am in no way defending her actions and for me she lost the moral high ground by her actions.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The cartoon in that Australian newspaper is ugly, but Serena is an imposing figure generally, if she is jumping up and down in a rage it's not going to look pretty.

 

[giri26]

Serena Williams was out of line at U.S. Open, Navratilova and Carillo say

Serena Williams was docked a point, then a game for behavior that included shattering her tennis racket and berating chair umpire Carlos Ramos during her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in the U.S. Open final on Saturday.

After the match, Williams accused Ramos of sexism, suggesting that male players get away with abusive remarks without such severe penalties. In the 24 or so hours that followed, the U.S. Tennis Assn., the Women’s Tennis Assn. and legendary player Billie Jean King have all backed Williams in this regard.

But on Monday, two of the biggest names in women’s tennis — 18-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova and veteran broadcaster Mary Carillo — were much more critical of Williams.

“It’s difficult to know, and debatable, whether Ms. Williams could have gotten away with calling the umpire a thief if she were a male player. But to focus on that, I think, is missing the point,” Navratilova wrote. “If, in fact, the guys are treated with a different measuring stick for the same transgressions, this needs to be thoroughly examined and must be fixed. But we cannot measure ourselves by what we think we should also be able to get away with. In fact, this is the sort of behavior that no one should be engaging in on the court.”

She added: “We do need to take a hard look at our sport, without any rose-colored glasses, and root out any inconsistencies and prejudices that might be there. Tennis is a very democratic sport, and we need to make sure it stays that way.

“But it is also on individual players to conduct themselves with respect for the sport we love so dearly.”

During an appearance MSNBC, Carillo also said the focus should be on Williams’ behavior, stating that the 23-time Grand Slam champion was acting like a “bully.”

“Serena is a magnificent champion, she is a great athlete,” Carillo said, “but people who are pointing the finger at the dude in the chair, to my mind, are really getting this wrong.”

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-serena-navratilova-carillo-20180911-story.html

 

[James]

I’m not sure if that cartoon is racist or not really.

 

[Proactive_]

Don't think the cartoon is racist in any form or fashion.. oh and yes.. Serena is a sore loser. Naomi Osaka just became my favorite tennis player for putting that egomaniac in her place.

 

[Sirris]

Incidents like these ruin the reputation of genuine case of discrimination.

Those who think the cartoon was racist need to take off their sunglasses and look at the picture clearly.

 

[Pakistanian]

Incidents like these ruin the reputation of genuine case of discrimination.

Those who think the cartoon was racist need to take off their sunglasses and look at the picture clearly.

It is clearly racist, Serena is portrayed as an ogre (stereotypes about black people) having a meltdown (angry black woman stereotype) and look in the background how Japanese-Hatian Naomi is portrayed as a little blonde white girl, whitewashing her to portray as "innocent".

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

It is clearly racist, Serena is portrayed as an ogre (stereotypes about black people) having a meltdown (angry black woman stereotype) and look in the background how Japanese-Hatian Naomi is portrayed as a little blonde white girl, whitewashing her to portray as "innocent".

The portrayal of Osaka as the innocent blonde white girl is the part which I thought was weird, she doesn't look white at all in real life, and definitely that picture is nowhere near a close depiction of an oriental woman.

Serena's features were exaggerated, but those are her features, not that easy to say it was done for racist reasons, although from what I've seen of Aussie tv, it tends to be very white dominated anyway.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Isn't whole point of cartoons to exaggerate features... otherwise they wouldn't be funny.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Racist - No
Cruel - Yes

 

[imrankhannsu]

The cartoon is stupid IMO and actually got the attention it wanted. The cartoonist and publisher knew well what reaction this would cause.

I found it quite pathetic seeing the pacifier. This might have suggested that Serena is experiencing post natal depression too.

 

[Hitman]

The cartoon is stupid IMO and actually got the attention it wanted. The cartoonist and publisher knew well what reaction this would cause.

I found it quite pathetic seeing the pacifier. This might have suggested that Serena is experiencing post natal depression too.

I'm not in favor of any cartoons being made on public figures at all. It's more offensive than funny.

 

[giri26]

Defiant Oz paper reprints 'racist' Serena cartoon

Melbourne - An Australian newspaper defiantly republished a controversial cartoon of tennis star Serena Williams on its front-page on Wednesday, slapping aside "politically correct" accusations that the drawing was racist and sexist.

Melbourne's Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight's caricature of Williams throwing a tantrum at the US Open, was originally printed on Monday, attracting widespread condemnation from across the world.

Under the front-page headline "WELCOME TO PC WORLD", the newspaper wrote on Wednesday that"if the self-appointed censors of Mark Knight get their way on his Serena Williams cartoon, our new politically correct life will be very dull indeed".

The cover included caricatures of other Australian and foreign political leaders drawn by Knight.

The veteran cartoonist added on Wednesday he had suspended his Twitter account to protect his family and friends.

Prior to disabling his account, his tweet of the cartoon had attracted more than 22 000 comments, most of them critical.

Knight labelled the outcry against his cartoon as a sign that the "world has just gone crazy".

"I drew this cartoon on Sunday night after seeing the US Open final, and seeing the world's best tennis player have a tantrum and thought that was interesting," he said in quotes published on the News Corp Australia paper's website on Wednesday.

"The cartoon about Serena is about her poor behaviour on the day, not about race."

The caricature has also sparked renewed debate in Australia about racist and sexist discourse in the highly multicultural nation.

Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, smashed her racquet and called the umpire a "thief" and a "liar" while she was losing Saturday's final to Haitian-Japanese Naomi Osaka.

She was she given three code violations by Carlos Ramos, which cost her a point penalty and then a game penalty.

That sparked a debate about whether she was treated more harshly than male tennis stars like John McEnroe, who was famous for his angry outbursts.

Knight's caricature showed a butch and fat-lipped Williams jumping up and down on her broken racquet, having spat out a dummy.

Osaka was portrayed as petite and feminine with jet blonde straight hair - in real life she has dark curly hair with blonde streaks and is taller than Williams.

Knight's detractors included author JK Rowling, who said: "Well done on reducing one of the greatest sportswomen alive to racist and sexist tropes and turning a second great sportswoman into a faceless prop."

https://www.sport24.co.za/Tennis/USOpen/defiant-oz-paper-reprints-racist-serena-cartoon-20180912

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Both sisters have always been classless moaners. Pathetic behaviour. Should be banned for at least a year.

 

[Sirris]

It is clearly racist, Serena is portrayed as an ogre (stereotypes about black people) having a meltdown (angry black woman stereotype) and look in the background how Japanese-Hatian Naomi is portrayed as a little blonde white girl, whitewashing her to portray as "innocent".

In the match the Japanese player had her hair dyed blondish. If you look at the skin tone the skin tone of Serena and Naomi isn't that much different. Heck Serena isn't even painted that dark colored either.

This satire. Satirical cartoons are known for drawing people in an exaggerated way. I can not see an ogre in the way Serena is drawn. Perhaps a big nose which is typical for African descendant people. Just like a brown skin tone and black hair are typical for Pakistani people.

My point is same Media and people make far worse cartoons about Muslim religious figures and pass it down as satire and nobody really blinks an eye.

However in an age of overpowered misleading philosophy disguised as "feminism" and "black lives matter" hysteria it is easy to get the social media riled up and hard to find level headed discussion.

Either we have a standard for satire cartoon where everything is fair game or isn't. People are just flip flopping around depending on their feeling and which group of people they belong to.

 

[Sirris]

I am just glad that the people complaining aren't also suggesting that the supposedly blonde hair "white" girl in the background can be seen to be blue eyed. At least some sanity and dignity on their part.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

In the match the Japanese player had her hair dyed blondish. If you look at the skin tone the skin tone of Serena and Naomi isn't that much different. Heck Serena isn't even painted that dark colored either.

This satire. Satirical cartoons are known for drawing people in an exaggerated way. I can not see an ogre in the way Serena is drawn. Perhaps a big nose which is typical for African descendant people. Just like a brown skin tone and black hair are typical for Pakistani people.

My point is same Media and people make far worse cartoons about Muslim religious figures and pass it down as satire and nobody really blinks an eye.

However in an age of overpowered misleading philosophy disguised as "feminism" and "black lives matter" hysteria it is easy to get the social media riled up and hard to find level headed discussion.

Either we have a standard for satire cartoon where everything is fair game or isn't. People are just flip flopping around depending on their feeling and which group of people they belong to.

I can't see an ogre either, the picture brings to mind King Louie from the Jungle Book when he is singing the song I'm the King of the Jungle.

 

[Zeeraq]

Serena Williams: 'I don't understand coach's claims'

Serena Williams says she wants to move on from her controversial US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka.

In the final, the American was given a code violation for coaching, incurred a point penalty for racquet smashing and was docked a game for verbal abuse.

Williams denies she was being coached from the stands, despite her coach Patrick Mouratoglou saying he was sending her signals.

"I just don't understand what he was talking about," Williams said.

Williams, who was aiming to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, said she had not received any tactics from Mouratoglou, telling the umpire she would "never cheat to win and would rather lose".

Speaking to The Sunday Project on Australia's Network Ten, she added: "I asked him (Mouratoglou) 'what are you talking about you were coaching? We don't have signals, we've never had signals'.

"He said he made a motion. So I was like 'you made a motion and now you told people that you're coaching me - that doesn't make sense, why would you say that?'

"I was on the other side. I didn't see the motion. It was just a really confusing moment, I think, for him.

"What I'm trying to do most of all is to recover from that and move on."

Following the accusation of coaching, Williams was punished for racquet smashing and verbal abuse, following several outbursts that saw her call the umpire a "liar" and "thief".

Williams did not answer when questioned about whether she regretted breaking her racquet on the court.

Following the final she was fined $17,000 (£13,100) for the code violations.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/45624387

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Still no sign of any admission of poor behaviour on her own part I see.

 

[MenInG]

Roger Federer says fellow tennis great Serena Williams "went too far" in her outburst at the umpire during September's US Open final.

Williams received a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for racquet abuse and a game penalty for calling the umpire a "liar" and a "thief" during her defeat by Naomi Osaka.

Federer said the incident could have been handled differently.

"I feel like Serena should have walked away," he told the Sunday Times.

"She did, but she went too far. She should have walked earlier."

Federer did, however, say Williams' actions were "a little bit excusable".

He added: "The umpire maybe should not have pushed her there. It's unfortunate, but an incredible case study."

What happened in New York?

Osaka's 6-2 6-4 victory over Williams on 9 September was overshadowed by the American's outbursts during the second set.

Williams, 37, was given a first code violation after umpire Carlos Ramos judged a gesture from coach Patrick Mouratoglou to be coaching.

The American - a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion - told Ramos she would "never cheat to win and would rather lose". Mouratoglou later admitted he had been coaching from the box.

Williams received another code violation for smashing her racquet, leading to Ramos docking her a point.

When the game finished, she called him "a liar" and "a thief". That led to Ramos docking her the next game - leaving Osaka needing just one for victory.

Williams later said it was "sexist" to have been penalised a game.

She was fined $17,000 (£13,100) by the United States Tennis Association for the code violations.

Djokovic beats Federer to reach Paris Masters final'What was the problem with the catsuit?'

In the Sunday Times interview, Federer also addressed the subject of female players' on-court attire.

It was announced in September that Williams would be banned from wearing a black catsuit at future French Opens, with the tournament set to introduce a stricter dress code.

She wore the outfit at the tournament in May, and said it made her "feel like a superhero".

At the US Open, meanwhile, France's Alize Cornet was given a code violation for changing her shirt on court.

"What was the problem with taking the shirt off or the catsuit?" said Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam singles champion.

"Serena has worn crazier stuff in the past. Guys have worn crazier stuff. For me it was all a bit of nonsense.

"I was totally on the women's side. Leave them alone."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/46088349

 

[MenInG]

Johanna Konta, who relaunches her career under new management and coach in the new year, waved goodbye to an ordinary 2018 on Friday with a late contribution to the Serena Williams debate, declaring she could not side with the all-time great of her sport for the American’s meltdown at the US Open.

Speaking to the Oxford Union about the biggest controversy of the season – when Williams was docked a game that destroyed her momentum in September’s final against the Japanese Naomi Osaka – Konta, the world No 37, said the 23-times grand slam champion was wrong to blame her shock defeat on the umpire, Carlos Ramos. Williams called Ramos “a liar” and “a thief” after receiving three code violations in the second set – one for coaching, which was later admitted by her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, yet denied by the player.

“I think there [are] a number of different elements that need to be taken into account,” Konta said. “One of them being that the umpire was right: Patrick Mouratoglou was coaching – he said so. [The umpire] gave a coaching violation. I think that has to be taken separately to what happened after.

“One thing that is 100% certain is that emotions are always incredibly high in a match, and I would imagine definitely more so in a grand slam final. Everybody is human, including Serena Williams, and I think the US Open just brings that out of her. I think she feels the stress there, that’s for sure. However, I think you’ve also then got to look at the umpire. That specific umpire is a stickler for the rules. He gave coaching violations to [Novak] Djokovic and to [Rafael] Nadal in different slams.”

She added: “I’m all for equal rights but I don’t necessarily always agree [that] when you don’t like something you brush it on to the inequality carpet and say: ‘Because I’m a woman I didn’t get this.’ I don’t necessarily always agree with that approach. However, one thing you cannot take away from Serena is how passionate she is about women’s rights. It is because of people like her and Billie Jean King that conversations are started, topics are put in the forefront and change can be made.

“Now I don’t believe that was a sexist issue, personally. I believe it was emotions running high and things just snowballing. That’s what I believe … don’t hate me, Serena.”

Konta, who reached a career high of No 4 in the world in 2017, tumbled down the rankings this year, parting with her American coach, Michael Joyce, in October to take up with the Frenchman Dimitri Zavialoff. She has also joined the management team of StarWing, who also look after the careers of Kyle Edmund and Stan Wawrinka.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...liams-wrong-to-blame-us-open-defeat-on-umpire

 

[MenInG]

Serena Williams says she wants to "move on to bigger and better things" following her first match back since her controversial US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka.

Williams, 37, was beaten by her sister Venus 4-6 6-3 10-8 in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion subsequently refused to discuss her confrontation with umpire Carlos Ramos in September's final in New York.

"I don't avoid anything," she said.

"I just don't have time to talk about that.

"I talked about it, everyone talked about it for months and months and months and it's best to move on to bigger and better things."

Williams got a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for racquet abuse and a game penalty for calling the umpire a "thief" in during the loss to Osaka.

She later accused him of sexism and was fined $17,000 (£13,450) for the code violations.

Speaking at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Williams said equalling Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles was a "significant" goal for 2019.

Williams' first chance to tie the record will be at the Australian Open from 14-27 January.

"It has always been significant since I got 22, then 23," she said.

"It's something that I clearly want but I have to be able to get there and beat a lot of good players to get it."

She added that she felt "pretty fit" in her defeat by Venus.

"I was running and running and never got tired except for one point but then I got over it in 20 seconds, so I think that was really the highlight for me," she added.

Before the match, Williams praised the introduction of more ranking protection for new mothers on the WTA Tour.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/46697550

 

[MenInG]

Serena Williams won her first title in three years and first since becoming a mother with victory over Jessica Pegula at the Auckland Classic.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion beat her fellow American 6-3 6-4.

It is the 38-year-old's first singles title since she won the Australian Open in 2017 and her 73rd WTA title overall.

Williams, in her fourth decade on the WTA Tour, lost the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2018 and 2019 and retired from the 2019 Rogers Cup final.

She said after her victory that she would donate her prize money in Auckland and a dress she had worn to the Australian bushfire appeal.

"I have been playing for so long and been through so much and I'm happy to be doing something I love," Williams said.

"I feel fortunate and blessed to be out here and to be healthy and to play."

The Australian Open begins on 20 January, with Williams bidding to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Williams won her first WTA title in February 1999, when she beat France's Amelie Mauresmo on carpet at the Open Gaz de France.

She made a slow start in Auckland, with Pegula taking a 3-1 lead in the first set, before recovering to win the next five games and close out the opening set.

Williams broke the unseeded Pegula's serve early in the second set and converted her fourth match point to ensure victory.

She celebrated on court with her daughter, Olympia, with whom she was eight weeks pregnant when she won her last Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Williams was also in the doubles final with Caroline Wozniacki, but the two were beaten 6-4 6-4 by Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend in the doubles final.

In Brisbane, Karolina Pliskova successfully defended her title with a 6-4 4-6 7-5 win over American Madison Keys.

Singles world number one Ashleigh Barty - who is donating all her prize money to the bushfire appeal - and her doubles partner Kiki Bertens lost their final against Barbora Strycova and Hsieh Su-wei 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 10-8.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/51081685

 

[MenInG]

Watch out Serena!

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/tsd25d" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[finalfantasy7]

Watch out Serena!

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/tsd25d" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

she wont be going anywhere , no offense but she cant even get her serve in - i play 2 leagues under semi pro here in Nottingham, the best player in my club is the best player in the whole of east midlands- he just missed out on being a pro as he decided to play in america - seem kids as 10 yrs old consistantly getting the ball in. i'll show you lot a video of emma raducanu at age 10,

However- all the best to the young girl, try her best and gain / pass the knowledge for every generation

 

[finalfantasy7]

heres emma raducanna at age 10:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4RC6JoglrE