BY BEN MEMULETIWON
Tennis amazon, Serena Williams, stirred the hornet’s nest in Saturday’s US Open final against Haitian-Japanese sensation, Naomi Osaka.
The mother of one open hell’s gate (in torrents of criticisms) for herself with the open altercation with the referee, Carlos Ramos, and the smashing of her racket. The tantrums have turned the former world champion and world number one left to a punching bag; metaphorically speaking.
Serena has since been fined $17,000 for her perceived iniquities. But support is trickling in for her from unexpected quarters as several tennis buffs became outraged over the penalty saying justice has not been served in the matter; that, in fact, she was unjustly treated.
Some of the experts said several male tennis champs had done worst things than the world saw on Saturday and nobody called for their heads. There were neither fines nor global condemnation.
In spite of her explanation that her action was a protest against injustice, many still want her crucified.
Serena did not dispute the fact that Naomi Osaka deserved to win the U.S. Open. For two sets, the Japanese sure played like a wounded lioness, a champion and overwhelmed the American.
Indeed, she left many of Serena fans in awe. But the big question is if Serena actually deserved to lose the way she did.
Those calling for her head should not be oblivious of the fact that when she stepped onto the court on Saturday night she wasn’t just battling for another U.S. Open title, or to catch the Grand Slam record. No. She was up against the unsettling history of her ill-treatment at the U.S. Open in two previous matches where her anger, not her tennis, was on trial.
So, when Carlos Ramos, the umpire and a man in a position of power, accused Williams of cheating because her coach was gesturing from her box, something which many coaches do, her sense of dignity and fair play were affronted.
Although coaching from a box is illegal, it is a rule that is rarely enforced. So, why Serena and why the U.S. Open final?
Serena was compelled to defend her integrity, and she demanded an apology pronto. Then, after a poorly played point, she smashed her racket.
All in all, that’s not also a big deal. The person who hasn’t smashed a racket, either a male or female star, hasn’t won a Grand Slam. The pages of tennis history are replete with cases of rackets smashing and the offenders were not crucified like Serena.
What did Serena say? Did she call the referee a thief? Even if, that is never a big deal in tennis given the kinds of things that have been said to referees by great male stars without consequence, apart from mild warnings to tone it down.
Referee Ramos allowed the situation to escalate. Serena could have taken a deep breath, composed herself, and resumed play, but that’s not the real world of competition. That’s not the world Serena, and women like her, live in.
Even, renowned star, Chrissie Evert, said after the game that she had never seen anything like Serena’s treatment in all her years of tennis.
Well, irrespective of whatever must have been said against her, Serena certainly has a presence and an aura – just mentioning her name, people are easily intimidated by her before they even step on the court to play against her. She has so many peculiarities that distinguish her from others.
Regardless of Saturday’s sad drama, and the repercussions to the tennis queen, Serena Williams, to many tennis buffs, remains a super woman. And above all, a super mum to her daughter, Alexis Olympia.
No referee can rob her of that.
