Having watched Meg Rapinoe and her teammates in the Soccer championships, I see a convincing case that women athletes deserve equal pay. Women’s tennis — not so much. There is a world of difference between a 2 out of 3 set match and a 3 out of 5 set match. For women tennis players to merit equal pay, they need to play 3 out of 5. I like Halep. She is clearly the fitter player when compared with the very sadly out-of-shape Serena, who obviously cannot run. But it would be ridiculous to compare the Women’s Final with the Men’s Final, which was a narathon and was so much more demanding in every way.
14
Simona Halep just played one of the best matches in women's tennis history but you wouldn't know that by reading the Time's coverage.
Very disappointing. Cover what happened, not what you hoped would.
26
the big scandal last September was not really covered-that Serena was obviously trying to intimidate Osaka. It did not work. Neither doSerena’s excuses. Of course, the disgraceful booing bysome of the fans in nyc was also a disgrace.
Frankly, this coverage is not very good either. Halep won handily. That was actually the story.
22
Halep is better than Federer. She won. He lost. USWNT
2
Pure nonsense. She won a 3 out of 3 set match. Federer barely list a 3 out of 5 set marathon.
Correction: 2 out of 3 set match. Not nearly so impressive as performing in a 3 out of 5 marathon.
@Ralph
I was using the reasoning of the women’s soccer fans.
1
Reading through the comments I am of mixed mind. I have for the last couple of years pulled for Halep and always said if she could get her emotions under control she would become a great player and she finally did it. Serena as another commenter mentioned needs to take some time to ask herself what is she afraid of that she becomes an emotional wreck during finals. Make not mistake about it she is truly a great player (notice how few women players have become number 1 and then were unable to hold the mantle while she held the title for years). I for one noticed that Serena HAS lost weight (but the teenager's outfit did little to help that perception). Could she loose a little more - definitely. However, ask any woman who has had a child how difficult that is. Serena needs to accept that the days of not doing warm-up tournaments are gone and she has to work at being fit for that next slam. And finally, she has nothing to prove to anyone but herself because she has ALREADY surpassed Court. Long time tennis fans know that about 5-10 of Court's wins were played against almost amateur players downunder and not in the open era. I'm glad Halep won but simply expected more "fight" from Serena. Just some food for thought for Ms. Williams and commenters.
10
I read quite a few reader comments. Wow, clearly the majority is fed up with Williams. Though part of me concurs, part of me says this is a double standard, McEnroe, Connors, Nastase…..all were given so much more rope...Just as petulant, just as coddled....yet never deplored like this, in fact, loveable/iconoclasts to many. C'mon folks.
10
@Dave
I didn’t like any of those guys either. I hated watching McEnroe so much I stopped watching tennis. Haven’t gone back since.
12
I love her.
3
Perhaps the headline should have read, 'Halep beats Williams in Wimbledon'. Right Streeter?
12
I disagree with the narrative that Halep won simply because she played the match of her life (which she did).
But the other side of the story was that Serena simply could not move fast enough around the court to reach the ball. In many, many shots she didn't even try. Serena was an one-dimensional player, relegated to using her power (derived from her size advantage vs the other players).
It was the same story when Williams played Halep at the Australian Open. Halep hustled and returned many impossible balls, running multiple times across the court to get there. Williams didn't even try.
With her excess weight and lat of heart to run after the shots, pure power (and technique) are simply not enough. Williams needs to lose a lot of weight and needs to find a way to reach the ball when running is required to win a major title again.
Good battle for the sport though. Congrats to Halep.
7
@Baron95
Halep would be beat Serena tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. She is the better player. Sorry Serena. Halep does not need to play her best match ever to beat you.
8
@ShamrockYou dont believe that! Halep played as she said the best match of her life. 2 majors??? Serena hater!
3
The headline should have been: Simona Halep defeats Serena Williams in straight sets, 6/2, 6/2.
15
I only watch some tennis -- but read most of what Christopher Clarey writes because he's a reportorial paragon.
But let me count the reasons why I always pull for Serena's opponents:
1. Because she's already won over 20 big tournaments. As a democratic socialist, I want everybody to have one before somebody grabs their 24th.
2. Because she's always poor mouthing her rough life. "I will fight against discrimination until I'm in my grave". she declared yesterday.
Yeah, poor poor Serena -- all those titles, the life of royalty and 250 million dollars. I cry at night over her plight.
3. Because of the way when the chips were down, and she was losing, she turned on the games' pitiful servants, like the lines people and referees.
4. Because she is so enormously bigger and stronger than all of her opponents. I prefer underdogs, like that skinny little Asian with all the trick shots that you profiled.
5. Because I've been hearing and reading about Serena for 20 years and she's always gonna win, favored to win or winning or having a baby or trying to come back from a baby. yada, yada, blah...I'm not the only one with Serena fatigue.
6. & Because I prefer Venus, her game and comments. She's more natural, less scripted by fame.
28
After her behavior last year at the US Tennis finals , this looks good on her . Was the Duchess of Sussex there to console her ?
Sorry , not a fan of either woman.
6
“...(Tennis) a white male dominated sport...” Seriously? Take another look see pal. Not just the semis and finals of the majors.
There’s something disturbing about Serena. Why is her sister so stable, grounded and (sorry) serene?
Serena “struts and frets” on the court. It’s almost as though she’s locked into supporting an entourage and cannot escape.
As Jack Nicklaus said in an ad a long time ago-“...man doesn’t live by golf alone...”. - tennis either.
10
Watched the match, clearly Serena did not look like she wanted to win, there was no bounce in her steps, no fire coming out of her mouth [except in one volley] and no life in her presence. she almost looked like she wanted to get this over and go home to Olympia. with the new young hitters coming up like Coco, she can either retire, or decide that she is as good now as she was then [ which she definitely is] and challenge the young to beat her. in any case, It will be a long time before there will be another Serena.
5
I'm dismayed at how disparaging some of these comments are....yes, Serena lost this match, no, she didn't play her best tennis, but that hardly makes her old news. If you think giving birth at age 35, almost dying physically and mentally as a result, but then coming back and making 3 major finals in less than 2 years means your time is over, then I have no words for you. Keep going, Serena!
9
Serena is over-the-top great. Perhaps the best ever or at least among the top three ever. We know all about her: her ups and downs, her temper and her discipline, her easily bruised ego and her kindnesses too.
We know all that.
But Serena got beaten (actually, clobbered) by Simona Halep. Maybe a word or two profiling the new Wimbledon champion about whom we know next to nothing?
16
Happy to see credit given to a rising star: 'lights out' performance.
3
Male dominated sport? When did Serena dominated in the men’s division?
3
Something about Serena just does not work. I think she needs to sit down again with a therapist and ask, "What is I am fighting for?" From the bizarre weaves and hair extensions, to the tight, ill-fitting, unattractive clothes, everything about Serena reads " a woman in crisis over identity," a woman that is insecure about her physical appearance and desperate to be attractive and sexy, not the confident black woman she claims to be. It is almost as though she hates what she really looks like.
As an African American woman, just once, I would love to see Serena perform with her own hair, without the ridiculously styled clothing, and without the bombast and controversy. Just be her natural self, and play. That is being a confident, black woman.
19
Male dominated sport? When did Serena compete against men? Which tournament? I would pay to see her play men.
5
isn't serena at least twice the size of other female tennis players? when I first learned of her I thought she could always in the nfl.
3
Serena is overweight and not in the best shape. When she can’t overpower her opponent off her serve, she has no Plan B. There were several matches she could have lost this tournament where her lack of conditioning was showing with labored breathing after any rally.
9
I saw the match and Ms. Halep richly deserved the win. She played a gutsy, skilled game. Can we give the young players their due, or has the scourge of celebrity and entitlement
and the outside forces of identity politics and agenda pushing made that impossible?
A player must earn their way whether they are wealthy champions or scrappy youngsters with well developed skills. No one is entitled to any championship based upon anything outside the lines. Already the Gray Lady and the agenda pushers are looking for a coronation at the U.S. Open. Some of us want close well played matches resolved within the lines based on skill, strategy and a bit of luck.
6
When a player commits only 3 unforced errors over 93 points, as Halep did, it's an uphill battle for the opponent. Serena served just as well as Roger did against Rafa (68% 1st serves), and she hit more winners than Halep (17 vs. 13). But as is common, Serena beat herself, committing the same errors over and over. Serena committed more unforced errors in 16 games (26) than Rafa did in 39 games (25) [Federer 27]. Serena's power game wasn't working its magic which should have led to a Plan B. Unfortunately, it appears Serena has no Plan B. For Serena to stay near the top of Women's tennis, she really needs to expand her game, probably by going back to learning (re-learning?) the fundamentals of Jack Kramer's "Percentage Tennis". Secondly, her net play is junior varsity level, which is puzzling, given her success in doubles. Swing volleys, ground stroke like overheads, dropped racquet head low volleys, cross court approach shots, low percentage positioning and bunted volleys right back to her opponent, makes it appear Serena comes to the net with a blank mind, whereas she should have 2 volleys in mind, the first being the setup for the winning second volley. Federer, the consummate practitioner of this philosophy won 76% of his net shots, Serena 36%.
Many of the younger players coming up are well schooled in these fundamentals, e.g. Coco Gauff.
It's never too late to learn and if Serena wants to remain competitive, she needs to expand her game by going back to school.
5
I’m happy to see that Serena Williams maintained her composure and we did not see a repeat of what happened at last years US Open. It’s good to be serene. Aah!
4
@Very Confused
H ad
A great time watching
L ook, every player there
E very one
P lays their heart out
W omens final at Wimbledon
I have
N ever had
S o much fun omg!
1
All I saw yesterday was a lack of interest on Serena's part. Yes, she still has alot of athletic power on the court.... but she did not look "hungry". She needs that hunger if she wants any chance at the US Open in September. I almost feel she wants that grand slam title, but just so she can retire on top. And all those here who say we should not comment negatively on her current conditioning, I disagree. She looked flat footed and out of breath, which I believe contributed to her obvious frustration with her game. You cannot partake as a champion (which she IS) and not keep your chops up. It just doesn't work.
7
Gracious in both victory and defeat, Serena has set a high standard for athletes in sportsmanship and performance.
3
You must have missed that total meltdown she had when she got beaten by Ms. Osaka. She has not set any standards for sportsmanship other than what not to do.
12
As Billie Jean King said it's unfair conditions for Serena Williams: she has to play tennis and fight for equality, freedom and human rights at the same time.
7
What nonsense! She receives more preferential treatment than anyone in the sport.
8
@Ricardo Fulani,
No, no. You don't understand. She fights for human rights of all of us, you included. For human rights of angry people, women, especially black women, maybe somebody else.
3
I rarely indulge in spectator sports, but I sometimes find myself in awe of certain performances. A great tennis player at the top of their game is likely to capture my imagination. Being great got them there, and all that it took. Look at economist Fryer for another example in a different field.
A change comes in when for one reason or another they can't maintain that level, or it's an immense effort to approach it. Some of the great ones know how to lose without anger or resentment. This appeals to those classy fans who might or might not have great tennis skills but give themselves credit for good sportsmanship.
Her fans will defend her; they should perhaps also suffer with her.
Paul Simon: 'I am leaving, I am leaving', but the fighter still remains.
1
Impossible to deny Serena’s place as the best female tennis player ever. It is also impossible to deny her sense of entitlement at tournaments, where her stature and her race put a lot of pressure on officials. There is also the self appointed arbiter like Carlos Ramos who overreacts in his attempt to prove he’s not intimidated. The real victim in all this is her opponent, watching from the other side of the net as not only her prowess but also her demeanor are in full form. At Wimbledon many years ago Serena suffered an injury and was given copious amounts of time for diagnosis and then treatment and then more treatment in the next set. She was beaten but prevailed because her opponent sat idly in her chair in cold rainy conditions and could not regain her form. Simona was on fire and completely prepared for anything and she actually intimidated Serena with her foot speed and anticipation. A well deserved victory.
11
After a lifetime of me chasing the tennis ball, Serene did not make excuses for her defeat but instead acknowledged her opponent's good play. Many players make excuses for their loss. 37 years of age is difficult in tennis. Unlike golf and other sports tournament tennis is extremely demanding.
Serene has represented America well and has much to be proud of.
7
i think williams is going to have to slim down to gain more mobility.
she seems to huff and puff more quickly and for a longer time than her opponents.
the longer the ball is in play, the more trouble she has.
also, the others are not as intimidated as they used to be.....
25
@brupic
She is significantly overweight and out of shape for a professional athlete, although she looked better here then at the French Open. The gap in court coverage between her and Halep was striking.
8
@brupic
She can't move now, or even since last year, and Serena tries to make up for it with power-serves and shots that missed the mark over-and-over. Then there are her tantrums to rattle the other opponent and pump her up. Those are the only weapons she has left; she's done.
6
@JD
she might well be done.
many thought the same of Federer a few years ago tho.
as an aside, I lived in kansai for many years.
3
There's no need to panic for Serena. She played 6 matches really well at Wimbledon and looked great in the process. She was dominant in her semifinal. Halep was just better in the finals. You wondered when she would come off that level from the fast start and she really didn't falter too much during the rest of the match. Hats off to Simona and on with the U.S. Open for Serena.
7
@Viper27mma But before she came up against Simona - possibly the best player overall in the last few years - she hadn't played any high ranked players. As her seeding drops it will get harder, and she will likely face a few hurdles early on in the US Open.
5
@Viper27 Serena was defeated in straight sets; I’d call that more than faltering.
13
@Viper27
Serena did not look “great” at Wimbledon. There were 2-3 matches in earlier rounds she was in some peril with. She is too heavy and out of shape to play her best tennis at 37. Her physical strength and power can carry her through a weak and inconsistent WTA field, but her poor fitness catches up to her. She is frequently out of breath during matches where she doesn’t serve people off the court and has to play more points.
8
Serena is an amazing athlete and tennis phenomenon. And she seemed genuinely humbled and gracious in loss today. But all too often she is histrionic and petulant during big matches. I have no interest in her fashion career or zillionaire husband or Instragram-ready baby. Her choices. Irrelevant to tennis. I don't see how she is in any position to form mature personal judgments about social injustice. She has lived in a bubble of wealthy privilege since she was a teenager. She seems to have only recently realized that the person on the allegedly beneficial end of the "discrimination" that took place at the US Open ... was also a black woman. And today she was simply outplayed by Halep, who was so thrilled with her accomplishment and so quick with her humor during her interviews. A very different type of champion, an enormously gifted athlete and competitor. I, for one, would be much happier to see more Simona and less Serena in the future.
41
@bengoshi2b I agree completely. Serena could have learned a lot from her older sister, who has always conducted herself in the manner of a true champion. Instead, Serena has demonstrated a false sense of entitlement and poor sportsmanship on too many occasions, e.g., the threat to the lineswoman in the Clijsters match and her behavior in last year's US Open final (I believe Ramos was absolutely right; he applied the rules correctly).
Yes, she's been a great player, but a poor role model. Who among us would want our daughters and granddaughters to behave like Serena? Her act got old a long time ago. I'm far more interested in young women, like Osaka, Kerber, and especially Halep, who comport themselves so well (and with Halep, it's been a struggle for her, in which she seems to have succeeded, with the wise counsel of Darren Cahill), in addition to playing amazing tennis.
27
It is truly awful watching Serena play now - she seems to begrudge every point she plays.
29
"I would never, ever want the light to shine away from another female, specifically another black female athlete.” Unbelievable identity politics, poor sportsmanship...and simply poor play again, this time around at Wimbledon. As Williams took time to roar and growl at the turf in the second set, again the tantrum almost flared, and it rattled Halep a bit as well for a few points until she settled back in to her thorough, less-than-an-hour dismantling of Williams. But no, oh no, Williams is both "finished competing" and would be wise to retire before other baseline 'brats' run her silly again. Congratulations Simona.
28
The women ride on the coat tails of the white male dominated sport including Serena Williams - just plain fact! Serena arguably the greatest female player ever, faced not only a tennis player today but an athlete that exposed her terrible movement, technique and nerves. She had dropped a level post motherhood and chances are it’s not coming back.
26
An article on Halep and her journey would have been a much more interesting and worthwhile read. The Wimbledon final was a surprising one-sided affair as the older athlete was completely outclassed on the day. We've heard Serena's story many, many times already. Now we are just getting the updates on the epilog. Getting a bit stale.
74
@Abraham:
Indeed. It's like reading "Tiger this, Tiger that" after a golf tournament in which he finished many strokes back, and little or nothing about the winner. Tiresome.
15
@Abraham Very well put. And can you please tell the TV commentators - whatever network it is - to be less fawning towards Serena. Makes me wang to throw up. How can they be like that post 2018 Flushing Meadows?
13
Serena is an undisputed champion. You cannot deny or downplay her many years of dominance. By the numbers she will go down as one of the greatest tennis players ever. A role model (mostly a positive one), a hard worker and mentally tough.
But if we pull back and garner a bit of perspective. Who did she really play. She was so dominant that no one was her equal. So how hard was her competition to win so many titles. Then there is the controversy of Indian Wells and her obstinate insistence about the tournament. How much should we revere championships she mostly never had to work for.
Back in the days of Billie Jean King there was Chrissy. Then Martina, then Graf. Which somebody did Serena play? Exactly...no one.
Now the counter argument, and it’s correct, “its not Serenas fault no one was as good as her” but still - who did she really beat!
9
It's unfortunate, but in tennis, as in nearly every sport, 37 is over the hill. There aren't any world-champion tennis players who are 45, nor basketball, football, baseball, hockey, or any other major sport. Sure, golf, but I don't consider golf a sport.
So Ms. Williams has just hit the inevitable point where she can't compete with younger players. It should be some comfort that this was completely inevitable, and that every younger player that beats her now will be over the hill themselves in ten or fifteen years.
6
@Dan Stackhouse - "37 is too old".....tell that to Roger Federer. He may disagree.
2
Dear Susan,
Roger Federer just got beaten at Wimbledon. 37 is not necessarily too old, if one stays in great condition and is very lucky. But Mr. Federer has passed the peak of his abilities too. I don't know why it's tough to accept that people age out of being the best in every physical sport, but it should be clear enough that there are no 50 year old Olympic athletes, and there never have been.
2
Serena did not lose to Halep. Halep very much beat Serena - and severely - as Serena herself in an all-too-rate moment of humility admitted.
30
I confess. I am one of the detractors he refers to who found Serena’s behavior in the US Open appalling. I have never been a fan. She has been a great force within the game, for sure, off the court and on, despite her air of aggrieved entitlement. She gets credit for aging well, to a point. Admittedly my model of players who really contributed to the women’s game goes back to Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Wouldn’t it be more fair, however, to do a detailed profile of Simona? She just won a slam title. She happens to come from a country with a rich tennis heritage set against a background of profound political and social dysfunction within a cultural setting of fascinating historical complexity. I mean no disrespect to Serena, but shouldn’t we be celebrating what Simona has accomplished and putting it in context beyond just an amazing and nearly flawless two sets of tennis in just under an hour in London? Serena gets crushed like a weak overhead and it’s all about her? Really? Not even she played that card. Show some imagination and some respect for us as readers that we might be willing to show some as well, and want to read about someone we probably know less well. I think we’ve heard the not-quite-a-comeback story quite enough by now.
104
Wow and amen brother!
15
I agree. The story is not "Serena Williams failed to win."
28
The fact is : Serena Williams is # 1 in women's tennis and there is no # 2,3,4,5,or 6 . There is just a pool of players that can win at any time as long as Ms. Williams does not show up. How else do you explain her reaching the finals of a major out of shape from a long layoff , as well as the occasional 15 y/o who almost reaches the quarter finals. She has the most potent serve in the history of women's tennis when most struggle to hold service consistently. Today her serve deserted her , and so she joined the others when her opponent played lights out. Let's see if Ms. Halep
can do it again , as opposed to Ms. Williams who has stood the test of time.
15
@Paul F. Stewart, MD
Factcheck: she’ll be #9 on Monday. She hasn’t won a tournament Since the Australian Open in 2017.
She has to earn her way back to #1 by playing tournaments and winning points.
Not disputing her great career. But she’s has lost plenty of matches since January 2017.
43
@Kate
Let me say it another way. " Rankings " are irrelevant when it comes to women's professional tennis. The level of mediocrity has reached a stage where a 37 y/o , out shape with little recent tournament play , can reach the finals and be expected to win because she is talented and has the best service game in the women's game. But , when her service game is off , she's as mediocre as the rest.
3
Reading about it, Simona Halep's victory feels like a footnote.
37
Serena looks very slow, and many balls that she had a chance at, she doesn't even go after. She looks like she doesn't even enjoy playing tennis very much. Halep played great, but Serena could have given her a battle if she had upped her effort.
17
Hands down to Simona Halep...no excuses, just pure skill. Well done!
44
“...the problems caused by being a black woman in a white, male-dominated sport.” Really? She almost always competes against women. Of the women players mention in this story four are women of colour. She chose to play with a white man in the mixed doubles.
The fact is, and this applies to many A list celebrities, she lives in a bubble where no one challenges her and where her every wish is acceded to. She disgraced herself and her sport with her petulant behaviour at the US Open.
87
@Simom Well put. Nauseates me how she goes on about being a victim, and how she champions minorities. Evonne Goolagong is the genuine champion woman of colour. Graceful always, on and off the court. A true role model, no matter what your sex or colour.
5
Just like new young blood is welcome in the political arena, the same holds true for the sports arena. The older players have had their day in the sun (so to speak). I look forward to the younger players minus arrogance and self-importance.
26
I'm thinking Serena should pay more attention to Billie Jean King.
16
The focus on one player detracts from the a wonderful competition between the many great female athletes. They all did great and should be recognized.
11
Hard to say what happened with Serena today. I wonder if Margaret Court's record is haunting her.
2
Serena choked. Her anxiety level seemed very high as the nearly 30 unforced errors attest. She did the same against Vinci in the Open semi a few years back. She is majorly uptight in the big matches of late. Was it always so? Self hypnosis, visualization, clonazepam, retirement, whatever. For the rest of her career Serena needs to chill. Her good cheer at the end of the match seemed to be a result of her relief at being at the end of her anxiety she experienced during the match. It was painful to watch.
12
I thought the women’s semi-final and finals matches were exceptional. Simona Halep was the better player in both of her matches, while Serena Williams was outstanding on Thursday but less so today.
I have read the comments here and I am sorry to read so many disparaging comments about Serena. She has her faults but has also been a great tennis champion.
However, I do not think that she is the greatest tennis player of all time. In her day, very few could defeat Steffi Graf and had she decided to continue playing for a few more years, it would be Steffi Graf’s record, not Margaret Court’s, which Serena would be chasing.
Finally. Listening to the commentators at Wimbledon drool their praise all over Serena and basically handing her the victory before the match was ridiculous. ESPN needs new commentators and a fresh take on the game
48
I’ve always liked Steffi Graf’s game more than Monica Seles’, but I think that it’s hard to argue that the tragic stabbing of Seles didn’t help Graf eventually amass 22 Grand Slam titles. Seles turned pro in 1989, and won 8 (to Graf’s 2) of the 12 GS titles stretching from the 1990 French Open through the 1993 Australian Open. After Seles was stabbed in April 1993, Graf won 11 more GS titles in her career, while Seles, never quite the same player again, won one more at the 1996 Australian Open. Graf is truly a great champion, but who thinks that these numbers would have been the same if Seles had never been stabbed?
3
Serena is a great tennis player. But it is largely a young person's game. She has enormous disadvantages to overcome when it comes to conditioning and court quickness. Yes, Serena has lot of experience winning tournaments, but the bottom line is with each passing year, winning it all becomes tougher and tougher.
She is no longer at the point where she is improving; many of her opponents are. And unlike the last three women who beat Serena in the finals by playing some of the best tennis of their careers, Serena for some reason can't seem to summon her best tennis in the finals.
Serena was something like 21-4 in her first 25 Grand Slam finals -- an inconceivable record of accomplishment. But is something like 2-5 over her last 7. The trend line is not good in terms of overtaking Margaret Court.
9
Yes, Halep played great and there's no shame in losing to her (or Kerber or Osaka) in the final . . . but to ignore the choke factor from Serena, losing with little resistance except a brief spark at the start of the second set, to a player she's beaten 9 out of 10 times on her best surface, looked so much like her other giant choke in the US Open semi-final when she was up a set and a break and lost to Vinci, while in sight of the Grand Slam.
Serena's claim to GOAT (whatever that means?!) is slipping as her dominant record in Grand Slam finals also slides, and she may well be remembered for her shaky results -- Martina Navratilova was more dominant across time and surface and also had to overcome significant personal obstacles throughout her career -- that said, i still hope Serena keeps playing at that level she showed in the semi-finals (and maybe keeps going with Murray in mixed) and wins another major for her daughter and all of her fans.
3
Kerber? Andreescu, the young Romanian Canadian player, has shown how to beat her twice. Kerber showed extremely bad sportsmanship when she lost the second time to Andreescu. Andreescu owns Kerber.
@Briano Andreescu has all but disappeared! She played two good tournaments and supposedly got hurt because she’s out of shape. She’s not even on the radar!
3
@Beth Ditto
she has a shoulder problem.
1
Serena had her day and now it's gone- its another's turn to win. There will always be someone who is better and faster- it's just the facts. Serena is a very good tennis player and she was a bit rude at times and full of herself- but she never criticized the USA to my knowledge or pulled any anti-patriotism protests.
6
I don't know the first thing about playing tennis but I do know that pregnancy and age cause significant changes to a woman's body and life. Maybe Serena needs a different coach and a different approach to playing tennis? It seems that what once worked so spectacularly for her as a young woman who hadn't had a child no longer works. Just a thought.
6
Simona displayed pure artistry on the court today. I think she may have at times defied the laws of physics! It was a well-deserved win, and she and Serena both displayed wonderful sportswomanship.
28
I play tennis and obey the rules of court. Serena does not. Her sense of entitlement is offensive to real tennis players who find objectionable her constant blaming of others for her mistakes.
I think her past behavior on the court defines her no matter how well or how badly she plays on any given day.
I look forward to the day when we have seen the last of her and her type of player who sets no boundaries for their own offensive behavior but who expects others to behave as she so instructs.
113
@Alabama
I couldn't agree more. I too, play(ed) tennis -- sometimes up to six hours a day -- and whether it was practice or a match, I'd never ever have opened up a big mouth.
I am personally thrilled she missed this boat. I am exhausted from all their antics.
Thank you, Alabama, for your honest comments.
31
There is a notion about stereotypes that says-you take a single instance of some instances far and few between, and you apply it to an entire group of people or use it to define a persons whole character.
I find it interesting that you parenthesise you statement by saying “I play tennis and follow the rules” as if to say that in some way lends credence to what you are about to say and then go on to use words like“constantly” which cannot be true as yesterday would attest. Perhaps what you interpret as arrogance is her realisation that being liked was less important that being effective and that no matter how hard you try sometimes you’re just not some people’s ‘type’.
The time will come soon “when people like her” will no longer play tennis and it will return to the good ‘ol days and you Alabama would rejoice!
1
@Alabama
Amen to that. I used to be a fan of her younger version before she turned into an egotist primal Donna. Now I can’t stand her boorish behaviour and on-court tantrums. The sight of an out of shape flailing arms at the nets trying to intimidate opponents and sulking all the time is not something to behold.
5
Halep played great. But the Serena who played two days ago was completely, absolutely unbeatable. She didn't show up today.
16
@SWB Halep has beaten Williams twice - even Williams admitted that when Halep plays at her best it's difficult to beat her.
Don't take away Halep's win.
17
@SWB It's a lot harder to show up when your opponent is taking the ball so early you are still in your follow through, then hitting pounding deep shots from both sides at you and controlling the court. And then to make her point, she gets to everything you hit back. That wasn't the unseeded 33 year old(first time semi-finalist)Barbora Strycova out there today.
17
It never fails.
The reporting of Serena and Venus and Tiger Woods- all fall into the same narrative: If/when they lose- "Is this the end?" Their careers are over; are they past their prime? Can they make a comeback? They were BEAT by a newcomer- a younger phenom.
I've wondered why is this so.
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@Candlewick
This is how the media reports on true legends of the game. Jack Nicklaus, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson,Michael Jordan and Brett Favre, all faced the same questions. What is your point?
5
@Brian And, notably, Federer. At around five different career stages. Only makes sense to wonder about these things, to be honest
@Brian -actually the media stayed on the Woods story long past the point where they should have. Although he finally did pull thru this year.
but on a Saturday morning (3-5 yrs ago) tournament lead in, with Tiger barely making the cut, and Rory or Kopeka doing fabulous things - the media would lead can Tiger pull this out. It got to be absurd how much time they would devote to him.
2
she is 37 and has had a phenomenal career. At some point, win some, lose some - with grace, like she did ... today - as Federer has been doing for some time
9
It is a really good article and I think Serena deserves more praise for being there, despite her age and a child. As Simona said in her Wimbledon speech, she has been such an inspiration to most tennis players! At the same time, I feel that Simona Halep should get a spotlight in another article in NYT. She has overcome serious financial and training hardship, she has upper her game recently by amazing margins, she may not speak in perfect English but she is kind, graceful, professional and hearing her press conference after Wimbledon makes you realize not only her determination, but also her strength, family love, grace, kindness and insightfulness that already make her an inspiration to future generations. Yes, she is not American, but it will be a great read. I may be biased, I am Romanian, live abroad, but today I was really amazed by her accomplishments first, and then proud of being Romanian!
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@Otilia You were right to be amazed by her performance and proud to be a Romanian. I didn't hear her press conference but did watch her being interviewed by Chris Evert and two other women following the match and was charmed both by the things she had to say and the way she managed to communicate them.
14
@Otilia You may be Romanian, but you have a wonderful command of English, to be able to write such a very eloquent appreciation of Simona Halep. It made me want to search the internet so that I can see and hear her myself.
8
@Jim Weidman I must say: I DID go and check out some of the playing, which was great, and the post game interview, which was even better. Simona is so humble, gracious, and appreciative of those who helped her, such an overall mensch, that she is an utterly charming human being. Really adorable. And she has a sense of humor, too.
8
Halep was awesome over these last two matches and should be the main highlight of these stories. Her cross court two hand backhand at impossible angles was wicked and her booming forehands placed down the line again and again were magnificent. Her drops shots as soft as pillows. It was some of the best ground stroke playing I have seen in quite awhile. I find it weird that all these journalist don't know truly inspired tennis when they see it and don't get excited by it. Serena was a side note.
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A tremendous victory for a far more prepared and determined player in Simona Halep. She administered an old school whooping on Serena. Congratulations to Ms. Halep!
I think that Serena is the best tennis player of all time but she does herself a disservice and even her opponents by not playing in more competitive tournaments in a lead up to a Grand Slam and she obviously doesn't practice enough.
And her footwork today was dreadful. It looked like she was wearing snowshoes.
Serena may be able to show up at Grand Slams and get a very favorable seed but when higher seeded players get knocked out early like this Wimbledon, Serena's path to a final is deceiving.
I knew and am sure anyone that has watched the game for decades, that Halep was going to beat her in this final.
That's 3 Grand Slam Finals in a row that Serena could not beat a more in form and on the day, better player.
Margaret Court's record just might be out of reach unless Serena
shows far more dedication in the run up to her next Grand Slam.
16
Serena is one of the very greatest players of all time, and I would never attempt to gainsay that. But this is not the first time I have noticed something amiss in her attitude on court. She is always gracious afterward, in defeat as in victory; but during a match that she's losing, she sometimes falls into a strangely sulky behavior. It seems both a bit self-defeating and also not exactly complimentary to her opponent. For instance, serving at 2-4 in the second set, she hit a couple of aces... and instead of using them to pump herself up and get back into the match, she made a kind of histrionic face, as if to say, "Where has that been when I needed it." Her body language at this point in the match was mopey, and it seemed as if she had given up.
When a player behaves like that, it can come off as a way of saying, in effect, that the loss is all about how poorly she is playing, and not how well the opponent is. It's almost as if she is reluctant, when down in a match, to reach even deeper; instead, she goes into a kind of defeatist mode. What seems a little unsportsmanlike about that, in a roundabout way, is the implication that if she hadn't been playing so terribly, so far below her level, she would have won.
74
Perfectly expressed.
5
Straight forward athletic concern: Serena needs to lose about 20 or 30 pounds. She is a big strong muscular woman but her body fat percentage is too high. She is not getting away with the extra weight which is slowing her down on the court. She is far enough away from giving birth to no longer use that as an excuse as to why she is carrying that extra weight.
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@Rachel
I find it curious that you feel free to give this recommendation to a woman of athletic excellence. This is Serena; she has looked the same for years and has had no equal for the same amount of time. Why the need for such pettiness?
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@Alberta Bound
I beg to differ with you, all due respect. She does need to lose weight. It's all about physics. It's harder to move a heavier object than it is a lighter one. Period.
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@Alberta Bound Telling the truth is not being petty, and claiming that it is is being unnecessarily defensive. Serena looks bigger to me, and when you're heavier it's harder to react quickly and you're slower. And it gets worse with age. Serena has been an incredible champion, but in the end nobody beats time — and excess weight. I predict that Court's record will stand.
29
Margaret Court probably could have played five more years to eke out a few more grand slam titles. Mickey Mantle once said that had he known that journalists would someday think that 30 homers combined with 30 steals was important, he would have accomplished it more often, especially if there had been more money in it. So much sports writing involves hyperbole, nonsense and conjecture. Political writing has followed suit. On television, things are even worse. Williams, and her sister, have had great careers and have been amply rewarded. Serena Williams could benefit from greater maturity and humility.
44
Serena will never win another major title again.
She should retire while she retains the patina of her remarkable career.
22
@Blais Two words for you from my other favorite sport golf: TIGER WOODS. Great job Simona! Many gave up on you but you rocked today! Keep trying, Serena.
5
It really is "okay" to have a career end. It is no loss to finish her career with her canon of professionalism. Serena has played well. Always. There must be more for her to accomplish as a woman, a mother, a representative for African-Americans.
5
@laurel mancini:
Sorry, but I don't think Ms. Williams represents African-Americans any more than I represent European-Americans. She represents herself, as do I.
1
Anyone who watched Halep’s semifinal match would not be surprised by her victory today. While watching that match on Friday, I said to my husband, “Serena is in trouble.”
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@Patricia So true! her semis against Elena is unbelievable! that match alone seals the championship! Serena has not played any top notch player into the finals (though it's not her fault), but to face Simona in the finals? i did not bother to watch it live for I surely know, Serena will lose again!
1
I saw the Svitolina match as well and thought exactly the same thing.
3
Absolutely thrilling to see the match and to see Halep finish her in straight sets.
Simona was spectacular and played a brilliant court.
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@Euphemia Thompson
Yes, brilliant playing by Simona, who, as she said before the match, "didn't have Serena's power, but she had legs." And she was so fast and in returning shots that would have been impossible for most high-ranked players. Truly the match of her life, and her smile afterwords was a joy to see.
The article could have said more about Simona's excellence and Serena's mediocrity and inability to regroup in this match. Serena herself said afterwards she was like "a deer in the headlights." Indeed.
9
It’s odd how players fall in and out of favor in terms of crowd support. Serena was clearly the fan favorite today with strong crowd support throughout the match. I applaud Serena for reaching out to Osaka and (sort of) apologizing for her behavior during last years US Open final; she should complete her journey and now publicly apologize to Ramos (US Open chair umpire) as well. Her outburst to him was wholly inappropriate. He remained dignified and calm during her tirade and her team (as her coach later admitted) WAS trying to give coaching instructions to Serena during that match; this is illegal and Ramos appropriately took action. In the heat of battle, it’s not a crime to behave badly. However, when the dust settles, to go back and correct a wrong shows true character.
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@Michael Stepanavage Apologize to Ramos?! Ha! I can tell you are a man Michael! Ramos's behavior as the US open chair umpire was totally authoritarian: how Serena, a woman, dared to go back to him for his totally unfair behavior towards her, how?! By the way, we will never know if Ramos gave the win to Osaka, which is not good either to her. And, I don't think Ramos would have behaved with a guy--even Kyrgios-- the way he behaved towards Serena (and for that matter towards Osaka too)
13
@Maita Moto; The chair umpire IS the authority for tennis match. She or he is responsible for enforcing the rules. Serena thought she was being unfairly penalized ; she lost her temper, then she lost the match.
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@James Griffin
There is a difference between being the authority and being authoritarian: Ramos was authoritarian.
5
Serena Williams is closest to striking Margret Court’s name off the record. I’ll be happy to not hear that name ever again. And I hope she (Williams) gets there. Full disclosure: I’m on Margaret’s list of phobia(s) (not sure how many of those she has).
12
For years I used to watch the Williams sisters with great interest and was delighted to see both of them evolve into world-class players, in the process bringing a new level of performance and excitement to women’s tennis.
Serena has had a long and very distinguished career, and at age 39 may simply be too old to compete successfully against the new crop of competitors who are a decade or two younger. She has still not lost all the weight she put on during pregnancy, nor has she regained the elite-level physical conditioning she had prior to pregnancy.
Also, I thought tennis had long since evolved beyond the childish tantrums and boorish behavior of Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe and a few others, and was therefore greatly disappointed that Serena Williams behaved so badly during her loss to Naomi Osaka last year.
Happily the younger, up-and-coming tennis players seem to be better behaved and more aware of what constitutes good sportsmanship.
Congratulations to Ms. Halep.
96
@Mon Ray - Respectfully, don't agree with your statement:
"at age 39 (Serena) may simply be too old to compete successfully against the new crop of competitors who are a decade or two younger"
She's gotten to 3 Grand Slam Finals last couple years.
She may not have won them, but "compete"...she most certainly can. Champions, true champions, don't always win.
27
@Mon Ray while I can agree with some of your post, a couple thoughts:
-Serena is not 39, she’s 37
-a lingering knee injury has caused difficulty this season (wheelchair in Disneyland Paris before 2019 French Open was mentioned) and her body likely doesn’t heal as quickly as it did a decade ago (Halep’s age)
-yes, she may not have lost all of her pre-pregnancy weight due to not yet returning to her prior level of fitness, but given her emergency cesarean section delivery, followed by multiple, severe post-op complications (pulmonary emboli, which necessitate blood thinners, which are a tough-call following any operation, and coughing secondary to her pulmonary emboli rupturing her c-section wound, etc.), I still give her a pass on conditioning even 22 months after delivery.
Indeed, congratulations to Simona Halep who played a spectacular match.
13
She’s not 39 (that’s her sister), and it takes some real temerity to comment on a woman’s weight post-pregnancy.
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