Serena Williams is a lot of things: One of the highest performing athletes of our time, a mother, a clothes designer, friends with Beyonce. According to USADA, she’s also tested for drugs more than any other American female tennis player, and is one title away from tying Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam titles in history.
That’s all of history, male or female.
Even though Williams already has the most Slam titles in the Open Era, her chance to be a record-equalling and, potentially, record-breaking athlete is intoxicating for viewers like me, and no doubt, for Williams herself. If Williams can (and I fervently hope she will) amass two more Grand Slam titles, there is no argument that could be used against her legacy as an athlete.
But until that happens, people, but probably mostly men, are going to debate her skills and ability. Without the concrete evidence of 24 titles, men will downplay her achievements.
Realistically, I know that lacking those two titles doesn’t diminish Williams’ achievements, but they would just be so nice to have. It’s the kind of irrefutable evidence that could shut down many of her critics, and critics she has in plenty, since her comeback trail has been dogged by controversy.
If the repeated racist slights Williams has been subjected to throughout her career are bypassed, the trouble started after this year’s French Open.
Officials of the French Open introduced a dress code specifically banning her iconic catsuit – an outfit with an acknowledged medical purpose. Though Williams herself has stated she accepts the change and is on good terms with the officials, many people still find outrage in the situation.
Then, it was this weekend’s U.S. Open finals, where Williams was handed three penalties and fined $17,000. Whether these penalties were deserved is being heavily debated.
In my opinion, all of the calls could have been justified – if, and this is a big if, officials are willing to forgo the precedent of matches upon matches where the same infractions were let slide.
More importantly, many of those infractions were committed by male athletes. If male athletes have been let off the hook for the same charges, then why is Williams being subjected to them?
Never mind that many male players have publicly admitted to exhibiting far worse behavior and receiving no penalty, that the coaching she received was a thumbs-up, that Williams is being labelled as hysterical because of her reaction, when a man might be labelled outspoken. At the end of the day, what should have been an incredible victory for Naomi Osaka instead became a victory where boos were shouted at the stage.
The controversy of the day ruined what was otherwise an entertaining and well-fought battle between two worthy opponents.
A heartfelt congratulations to Naomi Osaka is well-deserved.
I feel bad for Osaka. She, too, is making history.
It’s regrettable that her first Grand Slam win has been overshadowed because of the controversy — and I admit that I overlook it here. It’s not fair for fans to blame her for Williams’ loss.
I, personally, have always struggled with the idea that for one athlete to win, another has to lose. But there’s no use in me worrying about it because as Osaka and Williams have learned by now, that’s the way competition is.
Williams hugging Osaka through Osaka’s tears was emblematic of the sisterhood female players are more and more frequently being called upon to demonstrate as they band together to fight against the double standards within their sport.
Just a couple weeks before, French player Alize Cornet was given a warning for removing her shirt on court during the US Open, igniting a similar discussion.
It remains to be seen if the increase in controversy will affect Williams’ long-term success. Her return to tennis after the birth of her daughter is the kind of thing redemption movies are made of, but it’s not complete yet. It lacks a climactic victory.
Ideally, that would be a Grand Slam championship. The issue is that we are so used to Williams being completely dominant that the elusiveness of that next title has become the only bar we can measure her against, despite the miraculous success she has already demonstrated just a year after nearly dying.
My respect and support of Williams stems largely from my desire to see her do the impossible. Not just for the record, not just to prove the “haters” wrong, but to see what an inspiration her actions can be, especially in the wake of the last year’s #MeToo movement and sexual assault shockwaves.
So, yes, I want Serena Williams to win another Grand Slam. But not if the win comes with another round of controversy, however undeserved it may be. Not at the expense of opponents like Osaka, who appeared to be booed during the awards ceremony — and in no way do I blame Williams for this.
I want it to be a clean, fair win, the way a match should be. I want it to be respectful on all sides – players, coaches, referees and fans. I want there to be absolutely no doubt about the victory because I believe that Williams’ actions should speak for themselves.
But until sexism and double standards are eradicated from the sport, I think Williams and other female players will speak out, as is their right.
I look forward to the day when it’s no longer necessary.