By: Amber Goodwin (’19), Staff Writer
Serena Williams has dominated the world of tennis for almost two decades. She has reached heights no other athlete could ever imagine- such as being the highest-paid female athlete, a 4-time Olympian, and winning a major title within a year of giving birth. Williams has even been titled one of the greatest athletes of all time. Serena, along with her sister Venus, has changed the world of tennis by attracting a new demographic to a predominantly-white sport. Although Williams has received praise from fans and fellow competitors, she has faced more ridicule than many other tennis players — male or female. Whether it is her athleticwear or sportsmanship on the court, Serena has been scrutinized by umpires, tennis federations, and the media alike.
The double standard between white and Black tennis players was displayed during the 2018 French Open. Williams has had a history of blood clots and experienced life-threatening complications while giving birth to her daughter. Therefore Nike specially engineered a bodysuit that would allow Williams and other mothers to perform after childbirth. Williams, who is well-known for her curvaceous and toned body, became the talk of the tournament as a result of the bodysuit. Many spectators felt the suit was too revealing. The Tennis Federation even went as far as banning the suit! Although Williams respected their decision to ban the outfit, she is not the first player to wear a bodysuit on the tennis court. In 1985, Anne White wore a white bodysuit during a Wimbledon tournament. Similarly, Wimbledon requested Anne White’s outfit to never be worn again. Yet, White received praise from retailers and spectators who believed her tall, lean (and white) body was the perfect type for such an ensemble, the opposite of the media’s reaction to Serena’s suit.
The controversial 2018 US Open match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka is another prime example of the constant attacks and double standards aimed at Williams. During the match, the umpire penalized Williams based on what appeared to be sideline coaching. After Serena spoke with the umpire, it appeared he dismissed the penalty until she slammed her racket which resulted in two penalties against Williams. Williams was visibly frustrated by the accusations of cheating and demanded an apology. The media took this image and raised hell by painting her as the angry, Black woman. One piece, by Australian cartoonist Mark Knight, showed a controversial depiction of the match. Osaka, who is of Haitian and Japanese descent, was painted as a lean, blond-haired white woman. On the other hand, Williams was throwing a tantrum by jumping onto her racket with an overdrawn nose and lips.
The U.S. Open not only revealed the double standard between races but genders as well. Painting Williams as the angry Black woman is a direct contradiction to the long history of white men who were notorious for their outbursts. Several men have cursed out umpires and threw their equipment in retaliation to calls made by the umpire. After the 2018 US Open, many men known for their outbursts tweeted in solidarity with Williams. Professional tennis star Anthony Roddick tweeted “I’ve regrettably said worse and I’ve never gotten a game penalty.” In addition, James Blake tweeted “I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And I’ve also been given a ‘soft warning’ by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation.”
Tennis has always been a conservative sport with strict dress codes and regulations. However, the recent events surrounding Serena Williams sends the message that Black people are still not respected and reinforces the idea that we have to work twice as hard to get half of what white people have. Our world is forever evolving, and the regulations in various tournaments should be revised to keep up with a changing culture. Despite the ridicule and setbacks, Serena Williams is still on top of her game and will (arguably) always be seen as the greatest athlete of our time.
