Did Serena Williams show a lack of sportsmanship and class by her behaviour in the US Open and later claiming sexism?

Question

Justacatlady · Accepted Answer

I didn't watch the match and have only watched the clips but I feel that the issue could have been handled better. Serena is a superstar and tried to use her stardom to get out of wrongdoing. The ref should have someone to calm those situations. Or at least distance himself from the person who is clearly agitated with him. I don't know anything about tennis or the rules but if a person is called out by a ref, that's it. Right? I mean you don't see football players calling ref's sexist after games for calls made during games do you?

Just_Me89 · Accepted Answer

Serena just gets her back up when she's losing. Definitely bad sportsmanship and zero class. It's not the first time she's acted in this way. I'm sick of her.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

always knew she was a racist, classless, sexist, bitch. Now the world gets to see as well. I heard her DEMANDING that the ref apologize to her. haha. That tells me all I need to know about this self-absorbed "queen". She should have shut the eff up and played instead of verbally attacking the ref and his character. She deserves all bad things that come of this. Hopefully she can move on and grow up now that she's finished.

Logorithim · Accepted Answer

She did, and it's wasn't just a "in the heat of the Moment" Thing either, given what she said at the press conference and the fact she hasn't apologized for her lack of sportsmanship (also to Osaka).

I'm missing how this could have been sexism when her Opponent was a Woman.

nightdrot · Answer

Certainly a lack of sportsmanship. Arguably a lack of class. Definitely a lack of perspective.

For heaven's sake, it was a tennis match. Yet Ms. Williams seems to have invested it with universal significance and made it a prism through which we should judge society and the human soul.

Not for Ms. Williams the stoic self-discipline of the athlete. Rather, in response to her poor performance we get rationalizations shouted at the top of her voice. To which is added the usual bleatings of the spoilt child of how the ref was unfair and the rules stacked against her.

In this, it must be said, she lives up to - or perhaps more accurately she lives down to - the worst stereotypes of her generation. Whinny, self-pitying and self-absorbed.

A lesson for adults: The race is not always to the swift. Nor riches to men of understanding and an unscrupulous Providence consigns innocence to suffering. Put more simply - life is unfair. Deal with it.

To which Ms. Williams should be given some insight. If the worst thing that happens to her this year is that she loses a tennis match under disputed conditions, she should count herself fortunate. Children in Syria should be so lucky.

madgoat · Answer

It is extremely disappointing to hear the leading female tennis player of her generation cry sexism when she has a strop on court, goes on to call him a thief, demands an apology.
It also falls into every stereotypical behaviour women are accused of. There may be many reasons for this that we are not party to but when even a journalist can point to examples where men get the same treatment, her claim for fighting for equality does not cut it.

OfDeath · Answer

A couple of the top male players like Nova Djokovic (winner U. S open 2018) and Rafael Nadal made supportive statements about her but in my opinion they were just staying politically correct.

I personally think her behaviour was appalling and the sexism card was ingeniously played. It's been a historic issue in tennis.

fallen_wings · Answer

yeah. I used to think highly of her, and now she's just short tempered and irritable. poor Osaka

Massageman · Answer

She lost her first point due to illegal coaching via hand signals. She lost the second point for slamming her racquet into the ground and breaking it. When she continued her tirade, she lost more than another point! She has a history of disrespecting the sport, its dress code, etc.

ScottSummers · Answer

she was wrong
and the umpire rightfully took the point from her
also *men do worse stuff and nothing* isn't an excuse for her shitty behavior. Men should get penalties too for what they do same as Serena was in this case rightfully so. She was a bully who doesn't know how to lose, i just feel bad for Osaka.

Outofthegrey · Answer

I feel bad for her competitor. It was a career high to get that win, which was absolutely fairly won, and then this bitch goes apeshit and calls people sexist and thieves. It's not the first time she's pulled this crap.

Toad-1 · Answer

thats wasist!

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Serena was obviously out of line. I don't know if there is a double standard being applied but, if there is, you address that problem by punishing both genders when they violate the rules.

Jaded214 · Answer

I think her behavior was fine. Men act worse and nothing is said.

Mexicoman101 · Answer

I don't really care enough to closely examine the situation. Seems pretty petty and meaningless. From what I've heard it makes me think they're using sexism as a ploy but I don't know maybe they're right. Don't care.

ivanhunterjo · Answer

Serena Williams let her ego get the best of her and that in turn ruined what should have been a someone else's big moment in the spotlight instead of her. That's embarrassing for feminism as a whole

JCT666 · Answer

Sexism? Eh... Did she not compete with a woman too?

Bandit74 · Answer

I think she did. The 20 year old girl who beat her has a lot more class and humility than she does. Serena has a really obnoxious personality/attitude in my opinion.

ADFSDF1996 · Answer

She sure did. I don’t know why some people like to draw the “sexism card” to excuse bad behavior. The video clearly shows her being a bad sport.

Rissyanne · Answer

She acted like a spoiled brat.

anametouse · Answer

I'm confused. She's pissed at the humping air man and the air thrusting wasn't for her? Then claims the ref was a thief because he hasn't taken a point from a man? Can someone explain this to me I honestly don't understand what's happening here

WhereAmI · Answer

Unclassy. But look at other famous tennis pros like John McEnroe tossing a hissy fit and you'll see its not completely uncommon.

hasrett · Answer

She was annoying and that was the weirdest 'thumbs up' ever.

Catholicgirl22 · Answer

Yes very poor sportsmanship and an unfair attack on the umpire, he should probably sue

Did Serena Williams show a lack of sportsmanship and class by her behaviour in the US Open and later claiming sexism?

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