Spot on. "Martina Navratilova: What Serena Got Wrong"
Monika Elling
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Kudos to Martina for expressing what is ultimately important in tennis.
For those of us who have played competitively through USTA and NCAA, raised/coached nationally ranked Junior players, this was a a real shame. The rules are there for everyone, from the time you step on the court at an early age. No exceptions. If you are caught coaching from the sidelines, the penalties are in place. Smashing of a racquet---the exact behavior we teach are children to avoid---is also penalized. Verbal abuse of a referee goes further. (Parents have been banned from tournaments for less!)
We teach junior players the virtues of handling pressure with calm, to focus on the next point instead. Serena behaved poorly---male, female, mother or not, that behavior has no place in the sport. Personally, as a woman, I have had my share of double standards, but in this case it was irrelevant. Serena's comments were complete nonsense and her behavior unsportsmanlike. In the end she became an unfortunate example to the kids that idolize her, and to the parents and coaches that are teaching so many young players around the world about true sportsmanship. It was also not very smart on her end; that level of agita in a match mostly predicts a loss.
Had the roles been reversed and Osaka behaved that way, both the media and the public would have torn her apart. The President of the USTA also made an ungracious comment; no place for that in an international competition. Represent America well and show universal respect for any Champion who has earned that title.
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6 年It is a great pity that John McEnroe was allowed to get away with so much abuse of officialdom in his day.? My suspicion is that as a major draw-card the various tournament sponsors would not permit him to be properly dealt with.? That unfortunately set precedents that have made player conduct more of a problem now than it should be.? Having said that, my observation is that the vast majority conduct themselves fairly, respectfully and professionally.? There is just a handful that highlight flaws in the system.
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6 年Excellent summary It is very disappointing to see one of the greatest tennis players of all time behave in a way that unfortunately seems to be standard for two of our Aussie males in Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. Both of those players regularly get penalised by umpires and even fined by the controlling body for what is appalling behaviour, deservedly I might say. I would also add that whilst I have the greatest respect and admiration for Serena as a Tennis player, she does have a responsibility to a game which has allowed her to become the person she is and to set the standard for those who follow her. I end by saying I hope we see her back in Australia for the Aussie open playing the brand of tennis she is famous for and a final rematch with Osaka that goes for 3 gruelling and thrilling sets and she shows her gracious side whether in success or defeat
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6 年Very well written. I wonder what all the sexism brouhaha is really about
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6 年Very well said, saddest part of the whole fiasco is the huge support she has gotten for such despicable behavior, which has totally overshadowed the outstanding performance by Osaka!!?
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6 年It seems to me Serena should retire. She let her frustrations get the best of her, and behaved badly regardless of what you think of the chair umpire.