It is ridiculous for Serena Williams to claim her behaviour in the US Open final on Saturday was in the name of women’s rights.
In fact, it does a disservice to those who are fighting such battles.
There are two issues being conflated in Serena Williams’ loss to first time grand-slam winner Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4.
These are the presence of sexism in sport – and indeed society broadly – and the adjudication of an umpire. More to the point accepting the ref’s decision.
To the first question: Is there unequal treatment of women and men in sport?
Absolutely!
The disparity in prize-money, the struggle for professional contracts, the resources afforded to men’s and women’s sport (and of course media coverage of men’s and women’s sport) tell a sorry tale of sporting administrations – almost always dominated by male boardrooms – letting female athletes down.
Players unions are starting to advocate for their female members, but in reality it is the female athletes who have had to fight tooth and nail for every step towards equality. And there is a lot of improvement needed.
In New York, Williams’ display during and after losing to Osaka had nothing to do with the aforementioned issues or how women are treated totally unfairly.
Much to her credit, Williams has historically fought for issues addressing pay-imbalance and racial discrimination. Yet, what was at hand this weekend was her inability to accept an umpire’s adjudication.
Accused of being coached between points, Williams would later get a point violation for smashing her racquet and then a game penalty for abusing an umpire.
These are the three decisions that Williams alleges stem from sexism and that her calling out of the umpires’ decision was in the name of women’s suffrage.
The issue I take with Serena’s attempt to rewrite history of this match as sexism is that Carlos Ramos is adjudicating over what is front of him. He wasn’t umpiring Novak Djokovic or Nick Kyrgios that night, he was umpiring the player that questioned his integrity and showed absolutely no respect for him.
Indeed, threatening his career in the future. “You will never ever ever be on a court of mine as long as you live,” Williams said.
Serena Williams, a player Osaka has looked up to and drawn inspiration from, showed complete immaturity calling the umpire a thief and claiming through the advent of being a mother there is no way should could be in breach of the rules of tennis. “I didn’t get coaching. You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life… You stole a point from you are a thief too,” Williams said.
US Open winner Osaka’s sad celebrations amid boos
Her coach did later admit that in fact he was coaching Williams, which is in breach of the rules. But don’t let the fact she was guilty as charged by her coach’s own admission.
It’s hard to believe Williams being one of the greatest athletes ever to compete and an inspirational woman decided to follow the path of an entitled bully who acted as though this was her moment. Anyone that dare intervene – even to enforce the laws of the game ought to step aside and bow down to the only person who matters.
Williams isn’t the first player to blow up about perceived stiff calls or behave in a childish manner. The problem often has been male players behaviour on the court.
As Australian followers of tennis know we’ve had more than our fair share of men behaving disgracefully on the court.
An important observation to make is how women and men are represented when they protest decisions or become frustrated during a match.
There are outlets that leave a lot to be desired in how they present female athletes and their arguments with umpires.
Serena’s behaviour wasn’t hysterical and wasn’t because she’s a woman who was ‘flustered’. It was because the type of retaliation to umpires that features a lot in tennis.
Whether Nick Kyrgios, John McEnroe or Serena Williams. The actions are rubbish!
The worst element of all of this? The story people are most concerned with isn’t the one we should be.
Twenty-year-old Naomi Osaka is the youngest US Open champion in more than a decade. She’s the first Japanese woman to win a grand slam too.
Serena Williams is a champion, an icon and an inspiration and that’s how she should and will be remembered. However, on September 8, 2018 she was a sore loser. Plain and simple.
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