91Èȱ¬

Serena - I'm not sure people "are scared of her". But I am sure that there is a general fear of appearing to be racist. Perhaps we have to accept that as positive discrimination.

Gasquet - Such a shame. Even if it is proven that he took cocaine, it is not a performance enhancing drug; quite the opposite. Yes, it is against the law, but are other equally serious breaches of the law treated in the same manner? Personally, although I do not advocate the use of recreational drugs, I feel the attitude of Serena (and not just on this occasion) is far more deleterious to the image of the sport than Gasquet's indiscretion. And more importantly, he has a backhand that deserves to be in the Louvre.

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I admire Jonathan Overend tremendously for having the guts to speak the truth - especially when so many don't. I have never been a great admirer of the Williams sisters as people, both great players, Serena on hard-courts especially and Venus the best on grass but, as anyone who knows anything about tennis, either are at their best on clay. Neither is a good sport either. They always have excuses for being beaten, NEVER simply outplayed. Azarenka would have beaten Serena in Melbourne only for becoming sick and she, Serena, was nowhere as injured as she made out when Azarenka belted her in Miami. Well done again Jonathan, pity more don't have the balls you have!

Pity that the so-called 'STARS' and 'ROLE-MODELS' of modern sport want to get paid without even bothering to show up and do their job.

If I do half the whining these people do, i'd be kicked out of office without a relieving letter...

Losing money? Puhleeese!!!!It's like an ocean complaining that somebody took a jug-full...

Utterly disgusting and tasteless....

My My, seems like many have an axe to grind

Great article, and I find Serena the multi-millionaire ranting about losing out on money very bizzare.

Gratige I disagree about Venus Williams, of the two sisters she has always been the more gracious player. She gives her opponents credit when they beat her, she has championed for equal prize money, all in all I find Venus to be a class act.

The Williams sisters are two separate people - even though they are sisters - and I also disagree with the poster who lumped the pair of them together when he said he had never been an admirer of either of them. Venus, especially as she gets older, has grace and class, and lights up a tennis court. Serena does not. I also agree that people are reluctant to criticise her for fear of appearing racist but she seems like a a bully to me. On the other hand I did feel for her when the French crowd heckled her so badly at the FO against Henin and also, why does it still seem more acceptable for a male player to behave like a brat than a woman? She certainly isn't a straightforward player and person, but you do wish she'd think carefully before speaking more often!

Jonathan, this thing about the Nandrolone 7, didn't the ATP admit to supplying the players with contaminated electrolyte pills. Personally don't think Gasquet offence is worth a long ban, he'll probably get 6 months.

5. At 07:47am on 14 May 2009, KeepitReal wrote:

My My, seems like many have an axe to grind

My My someone should get off their high horse and look at reality...

Well done Jonathan for saying what needs to be said! I've never been impressed with Serena as a person - yes, she can belt a tennis ball (with that physique, you'd be disappointed if she coudldn't!) but her attitude often leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. This incident just goes to show what her true motivation is....money!! She's more interested in making money than she is in promoting the game and doing what's best for it.
And how she has the ordacity to complain about the cost of doing up her house when she's earned millions and millions....that's just tasteless!
She's showing her true colours and sadly there are few surprises.

Well said. Serena is a spoilt drama queen who always wants her own way. When losing to an opponent she will often play up an "injury"; rarely is she beaten on merit in her eyes. She should show some humility from time to time. Her comment about the fine and how it would go a long way towards paying the cost of her home improvements is particularly insensitive at this of global economic hardship for many.
Despite her undoubted ability and impressive haul of titles, she lacks charm and class. She is to tennis what Chelsea are to football.

The Williams sisters have always spoken absolute rubbish and are so incredibly wrapped up in their own little world (where they are the greatest and the only explanation for losing is if they play badly) that this latest comment should surprise nobody. They are terrible role models and cry-babies who, like Cristiano Ronaldo, set a bad example to future generations of players and whose negative effects on their sport far outweigh the positives. Yes, she's right it's a lot of money - but does she need it? No.

I agree that Serena deserves criticism for her attitude but, isn't there a valid point about the tour rules? With so many tennis players suffering burnout and retiring at a young age, it is counterproductive to even try to make them play more tournaments that they want to. I think players have to travel, train and play for a long enough part of the year, and they should be entitled to rest at home if they so feel like it. I know that tournaments need to be assured of top players to sell tickets and get sponsorship, but the players' interests should not be put aside. The tour should be using more carrots and fewer sticks when it comes to making their players participate.

rickym63

Did you actually read the article???

You should read this too (link was in the article):

I had been an ardent supporter of the Williams sisters right from the beginning of their careers and in the past believed that a lot of the bad press they received, especially in the UK, was unfair and at times tinged with unpleasant racial stereotypes. I remember in particular, an article in a leading Sunday broadsheet before their 2003 Wimbledon finals, which reeked of the most odious racial characterisation, which enraged me at the time.

In saying that though I dont think they helped their cause in the early days with their total self-absorption and disregard for their opponents (Not that Hingis, Kournikova, Henin, Dokicetc were any less self absorbed in those exciting years of the womens game in the early 2000s). But then you don't far outlast all your contemporaries and along the way win a combined total of 37 Grandslam titles (if you count their respective doubles wins individually) by lacking anything other than supreme conviction in your ability bordering on entitlement.

However, whilst Venus has grown out of the "attitude" she displayed as a teenager and matured into a thoroughly nice, gracious and pleasant woman, Serena has gone the other way with her boorish, arrogant and downright unpleasant manner.

With this in mind, I wish people would differentiate between the two instead of lazily lumping them together. As regards this latest Serena mouth off, it should be pointed out that Venus actually supports the "roadmap" initiative and has publicly stated so. Venus has also taken her responsibilities as a member of the players council seriously and shown leadership on WTA issues, illustrated by her articulate and vocal support for her fellow player

I washed my hands off Serena many years ago but still remain a big fan of Venus, who I believe should be given more credit than she usually is because of her idiot sister.

Serena is a waste of time for tennis. She dwells in her own world of fancy cars, her own dressing line and what not. In the end she just wants to pocket all the cash. I guess that's what professional tennis is all about, pocketing the cash.

Jonathan,
That's a terrific piece on S.Williams, she comes across as a spoiled brat and then confirms all suspicions by writing about it. Great to see the 91Èȱ¬ calling her on it.

Esxcuse me for changing sports (not subject though) on you, but PGA Tour players were recently asked,"Because of Tim Finchem's request (prompted by the difficulty so many sponsors are experiencing), have you added more tournaments to your schedule this year?" 55% responded "NO!". Led by T.Woods' "Probably not."

Extraordinary.

As for Gasquet, kudos to tennis for announcing what he tested positive for. The PGA tour will have to face that with their drug testing as soon as there's a positive result. Did player X take steroids, heroin, or misuse an inhaler? The public have a right to know, and the player with mis-used asthma medication will quickly try to distance himself for the ott supplement-habituee.

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks a lot for this article. It is high time we have a constructive insight to the blinkered world Serena lives in.

I tend to agree with the 1st post from pacaki, that an element of positive discrimination is apparent here with the way the press deals with her. However, as long as journalists keep away from racial stereotypes and undertones, then they should freely challenge her antics and report facts!

For a supposedly 'No 1' tennis player, she embodies everything that is wrong about the successful professional sports stars for recent years. The lack of class and respect for her sport and her competitors is beyond comprehension.

I for one, will be glad when she decided to retire and has more time to her carry on with her lavish lifestyle which should include completion of remodelling that house!

It is apparent from this article that the writer does not
actually know how the WTA 'works', in relation to its
players. Jonathan, have you had much contact with WTA
officials and witnessed interaction with [star] players?

Yes, no-on is 'forcing' [injured] players to play.
Nonetheless, it is apparent that pressure *is* exerted
upon players to attend tournament when not fully fit -
simply to make a tournament commercially viable.



Jonathan Overend wrote:

" Nobody is forcing an injured player to play a match, that clearly would be insane and irresponsible. What the WTA has introduced, for its premier tournaments, is a requirement for injured players to turn up to the venue, shake a few hands, do some media and sponsor work."

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true the williams sisters are poor losers and not the most gracious when champions, but i think she was trying to highlight a major problem in tennis. they are forced to play/appear a little bit too much, i feel, w/ the way the points work. golf is beginning to do the same thing and if you are not as good as tiger, (winning or at least top 10 every time out) it will impact where you stand big-time if you don't play enough events. this is actually across the board in sport. it's down to business. how many games are the best footballer's playing between league, domestic cups, eufa/champions league, and let's not forget pre and post season "tours" to expand the brand...sport is too much of a business nowadays and until truth and value overcomes greed and marketing strategy things will not cahnge and only get worse...

Justice for the French Backhand King ONE!!!!

"What the WTA has introduced, for its premier tournaments, is a requirement for injured players to turn up to the venue, shake a few hands, do some media and sponsor work."

It says it all that these spoiled brats need an incentive to turn up and do a little bit to give something back to the sport that has made them comfortable for life.

They should WANT to turn up and help the sponsors.

Okay, so the sponosrs are big corporations but they are the ones providing the prize money and they deserve respect from the players.

Well well Mr Overend, self appointed spokesperson for the WTA. If what Serena said is total 'hogwash' why have they (the WTA) not issued a statement to clarify the issue.

Secondly, how is money thrown at these sports millionnaires who obviously work hard to get to their level of play...Serena's comment about the money shows sensitivity, she does not take the idea of a fine lightly. I am sure if she did the contrary, opting to pay the fine, people would accuse her of being arrogant because she can obviously afford to pay.

I find these attacks on such a great player appauling, needless to say, there seems to be an effort to undermine Serena's achievements by constantly attacking everyword she says...some of her comments are clearly tongue in cheek, thank goodness that a majority of us see them as that. It is not a life and death issue, it is sport entertainment.

Mr Overend unless you are a representative of the WTA, then I suggest your comments are total 'hogwash.'

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Sorry Jonathan but I think you have your wires crossed.

Of course players don't get fined if they retire from a match, but they do get fined by the WTA if they withdraw from the tournament before it has started or if they don't do the media. Maria Sharapova said she was threatened with a $300,000 fine if she didn't show up to do her media assignments at the Rome tournament a couple of years ago.

I think what Serena is saying is that she would rather have spent time rehabilitating at home rather than coming to these tournaments, but of course she would have been heavily fined because she has a lot of media obligations and contractual agreements. She is also the biggest star right now, whether you like it or not, on the WTA Tour so that's what makes the fines so large for her - others players get fined for doing the same thing just with much less money.

I think Serena sees it as her right to play around ten tournaments a year, and rest for the other part of the year. We can criticise her for her lack of commitment to the sport but really, shouldn't she be entitled to that decision? In her view, the other option would be to play 30 tournaments, amass lots of ranking points and retire with burnout in her early/mid twenties (see Clijsters, Henin, Capriati, and many others). She deserves some degree of criticism for her choice of words, and even certain arrogance - and it is not racist to do so. But I still say that the tour should use more carrots than sticks when trying to get players to play more often. And yes, mikosh, I had actually read the article (posts 13-14).

It's evident that the very last place you will find a tennis pro is actually at a tournament unless, of course, they are still involved. As they get knocked out so they jet off, rarely even watching the final stages on TV.

Unlike gladiators they are not risking their lives, nor fighting for their freedom. They earn huge sums of money from winnings, sponsorship and celebrity status. Not thousands but millions of pounds.

So for the WTA to try and get their main stars to put something back into the sport is immensely commendable.

What is not commendable is for players, like Serena, to treat tennis not as a sport but purely as a personal money factory. Does Serena even enjoy playing tennis any more?

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. John McEnroe made a career out of being a 'brat'. What's wrong if Serena wants to do it?

We have to forgive Serena, she is refurbishing her new house !

whatever :)

i understand that she is upset about the rules, she should not have to play if injured, but it's almost obcene to hear her complain about the financial penalty.

just one thing, it would be wrong to consider both sisters as one and the same, they are very different, i have rarely seen Venus behave like her sister.

Can it really be so that she hasnt read what the writer here says is in the rule books?
Is it as simple as that?
I'd love to see a real cat fight between Serena and Venus, I mean on the ground pulling each others hair.
I've always felt games between them was like taking money from one pocket and putting into the other.

This article contains one of my pet peevs. I hate it when commentators alude to events that they are not prepared to detail.

"I was told at the time, by a very well-placed informant, that at least one major international star was in that group."

Either name them or don't make the comment. By not naming, we have no idea whether there is any inside info or it is just being made up for effect. I could say I know of one top player who has committed a murder, but by mentioning no names I don't have to justify my comments.

Slushington, I think it's you that has their wires crossed. Jonathan stated in the article that Serena didn't have to play in the tournament, just turn up with a doctor's certificate and do some glad-handing and media work for the sponsors. In your response, you seem to use the example of Sharapova being threatened with a fine if she didn't do media work as a way to refute this when it actually just confirms it.

You then say that Serena wasn't complaining that she had to play but just that she had to come at all. That's clearly not the case; she was complaining - incorrectly - that she was being forced to play. That's why she started the match and then retired injured.

Im a tennis fan. Ive played for 35 years and followed the sport with enthusiasm and dedication. Its a great game.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Venus and Serena throughout their careers as they supplanted and then eclipsed many of the best players in the WTA. I applauded Venuss very public challenge to Wimbledon to make prize money equal for men and women.

Since the beginning of 2009 my estimation of the Williams sisters is crumbling. Ours is not a perfect world where people are seen as individuals and not pre-judged according to race or religion. Accepting this premise, I believe Venus and Serena should acknowledge they are double minorities. They have a duty to, as public figures and role models, make a stand for principles. I was disappointed with Venus and Serenas show of apathy toward Barak Obamas election when asked about it by the press at the years first major tournament in Australia.

When Shara Peer was denied a visa to play in Dubai, I believe the WTA should have packed their collective bags and gone home. When they didnt, it became very apparent that Larry Scott and the tour he represents are in this game largely for the money. They seem to have forgotten the games global charter. Did Venus sidestep Larry Scotts wizard-like PR efforts with her words at the end of the tournament? I think not.

How can Venus feel shes doing the right thing while on the one hand shes telling off tournament officials for barring Peer and in the other shes holding her payoff for the tournament. You cant officially take a stand unless it means something and in this case, Venuss stand was an empty one. Interestingly, key top mens players stayed away from the event in protest.

I hope Venus and Serena, in addition to being great athletes, can work into their skins as role models and champions for the sport-not just the paycheck.

Jonathan, can't you admit the possibility that there's a behind-the-scenes conflict between the players and the WTA that caused Serena to react the way she did?

It's really sad the number of people who are ready to jump on Serena Williams for her comments and I cannot for the life of me believe the number of psychoanalysts we have in our midst since everybody seem to know how Serena's character is (infact they can tell what she thinks).
I think a lot of comments have been prejuduced against Serena.Infact the comments by jonathan Overend is pretty pointless.
Is he saying people who have made money out of their own sweat and hardwork like Serena should not complain if they are fined or could be fined. And is he saying tennis players who have been badly thrashed should not collect their cheques and be happy with what they have earned.
They deserve every penny they get becos of their popularity and the excitement they give we ordinary people.
Coming to the fine rules. Why did WTA not come out and say that they will not fine players as long as they shake a few hands? Is Mr Overend now a spokesman for WTA.
It looks like a lot of British ( and Europeans) generally have it in for the William sisters. Well i guess that is the price of success and longevity in the game.
I personally think Mr Overend is cashing in on the big news that is Serena Williams as a journalist. But sorry your piece is a load of bull.
Have we ever asked ourselves why people who excel in particular fields of life choose to. Some do just for the adrenaline rush and ambitions but all do it for financial gains. so there don't blame anybody for getting paid for doing a good job.
We must all be careful not to stand in judgement of poeple we don't know.
Lets state facts not make judgemental calls.

Do people really think Venus and Serena are in it for the money? Clearly both have the bigger picture in mind. It's about records and longevity in their chosen sport. I love it when Serena stirs things up...

Ravinrey, you might have a point. I do not think Serena is really that upset...She clearly did not want to play.