I am watching this match as I write. It doesn't get much better than this! What a joy!! I hope we'll be able to watch more Mattek-Sands. And, of course, Serena always impresses.
1
Ridiculous article, horrible wording. Years ago I watched Serena play a match in New York that she won despite persistent loud booing from the audience. This article seems like a repeat of that day. Serena is simply the best due to intense dedication, focus, and hard work. She has my eternal respect and admiration.
8
Let's not forget that Serena has had to face down and win against an opponent at least as formidable as she is - the prejudices against her for being Black and for showing emotional vulnerability on the court. She knows full well the struggle of having to fight simultaneously her opponent and a stadium wanting her to lose. For me, knowing this adds mightily to her luster as a champion.
4
Oh come on now..."terrifying, crushed, victim, fear" this is tennis & a tennis player...yes a great one...we are talking about here. I'm not a fan...never have been one...I do really miss Stefi & Navratalova & Justine & Kim. Serena is definitely the best of her generation but that scary?!?! Give me a break...she can...& has been...defeated.
3
If You were a fan, or ever played tennis, you'd know how special Serena Williams really is. As a pro, no one wants to look like an amateur in front of the whole world - that is terrifying. Abd as to your poo-pooing physical fear, I'm assuming you've never been hit by a slammed tennis ball.
2
Oh here we go with another "Serena is so big and strong and dark and scary" story.
9
"King, who is 5 feet 5 inches, 130 pounds, to Williams’s 5-9, 150"
Tennis is no longer a sport of finesse but a sport of brute force and strength. Advantage Williams.
Tennis is no longer a sport of finesse but a sport of brute force and strength. Advantage Williams.
1
Such poor word choices in this article: Terrifying, crushed, damage, squish, victim, gulped, fear, uncontrollable.
This is a tennis match, not a murder.
Serena is one of (if not the) greatest tennis players ever. No one wins 21 grand slams simply by overpowering the competition. Lisicki has the fastest serve in the WTA. Keys has the hardest groundstrokes of any woman on tour. But Williams, in addition to her serve, has always used her return of serve, impeccable timing, court angles, and deep groundstrokes to win matches.
You can't beat someone 6-0, 6-1 with just powerful serves. You have to be able to break serve also.
Sidenote: the other thing is that this "murderous" language inspires people to fear or root against Williams, and to treat her as some kind of monster.
She's a tennis player. A once in a generation tennis player. High time that the language we use to describe her is respectful.
This is a tennis match, not a murder.
Serena is one of (if not the) greatest tennis players ever. No one wins 21 grand slams simply by overpowering the competition. Lisicki has the fastest serve in the WTA. Keys has the hardest groundstrokes of any woman on tour. But Williams, in addition to her serve, has always used her return of serve, impeccable timing, court angles, and deep groundstrokes to win matches.
You can't beat someone 6-0, 6-1 with just powerful serves. You have to be able to break serve also.
Sidenote: the other thing is that this "murderous" language inspires people to fear or root against Williams, and to treat her as some kind of monster.
She's a tennis player. A once in a generation tennis player. High time that the language we use to describe her is respectful.
45
Serena is her own worst opponent. Whether it's an aggrandized ego or a hidden streak of self-doubt, her biggest battle seems to be the one within her own head. I think Novak and Federer are such great champions because they have mastered the management of their minds. It's painful to watch Serena struggle with her mental melodramas and insecurities on such a public stage. I wonder if she is working with a top sports psychologist for help in winning her inner war? Still, all props to her for playing -- and winning -- at such a high level.
Wow, how many brown nosing can you fit into a single article? Williams is great but this makes her sounds undefeatable, king of kings or a deity. There has been no shortage of man challenging gods let along a good tennis player. Running before a match seems unwarranted
2
Look up the cover of Life Magazine for November 12, 1971 to see another example of the "Serena fear" phenomenon. Something special.
2
What a terrible, simple-minded and myopic piece of "journalism"--if one must call it that. One that is clearly, yet cunningly, disrespectful of a phenomenal athlete's skill, talent, and athletic prowess, as well as all that is required for an athlete to be competitive and remain a champion going into her mid-thirties--and competing against young women as young as nearly half her age.
How "clever," but not really, of this writer to portray Serena as "machine-like," "other-worldly," and "terrifying," etc., and her opponents as helpless waifs--and not the world-class pro athletes that they are--who seemingly just wandered onto the tennis court and was demolished by this "big" (5'9", 150 pounds?--Give me a break!) "other."
Such coded racial dribble as this is typical of Serena-hating journalists, -fellow athletes, and -tennis fans alike.
THIS is exactly what the sparkling, clear-eyed, and nuanced article on Serena by Claudia Rankine, in last week's NYT Magazine ("The Greatest"), unpacked and revealed.
However Serena's detractors chose to code, slice, lob or spin their words, they will never be able to erase her talent, skill and greatness in the sport of tennis.
How "clever," but not really, of this writer to portray Serena as "machine-like," "other-worldly," and "terrifying," etc., and her opponents as helpless waifs--and not the world-class pro athletes that they are--who seemingly just wandered onto the tennis court and was demolished by this "big" (5'9", 150 pounds?--Give me a break!) "other."
Such coded racial dribble as this is typical of Serena-hating journalists, -fellow athletes, and -tennis fans alike.
THIS is exactly what the sparkling, clear-eyed, and nuanced article on Serena by Claudia Rankine, in last week's NYT Magazine ("The Greatest"), unpacked and revealed.
However Serena's detractors chose to code, slice, lob or spin their words, they will never be able to erase her talent, skill and greatness in the sport of tennis.
24
I feel you, bro, but you gotta let somebody else live in their own reality, and that's what this writer is doing. She's writing from her own SUBJECTIVE reality. I'm black and willing to allow her her point-of-view based on HER schematic, her historical framework. Feel me, dude?
Lulu.com/michaelclayton
Lulu.com/michaelclayton
3
Wonderful writing!
I love watching this marvel play and I enjoy her off the court behavior as well. She works harder than most at this game and deserves the legacy that she will leave.
7
Every tennis player who has completed in an organized tournament faces it. I'm a minimal 4.0, but when I stand across the net from a 5, my game goes out the window. They're just a better player. Their serve is better, their shots are better, they run you all over the court, and you never have a chance to settle down and hit a shot. Serena is just the best woman player who's ever played the game. That's tennis for you. The world's greatest game!
4
Serena Williams is by some margin the best female tennis player at the moment. And certain players on the tour surely experience some level of intimidation, or more likely self doubt, when facing Serena.
But the hyperbole in this article is so far over the top it borders on farce. Try again.
But the hyperbole in this article is so far over the top it borders on farce. Try again.
11
Any serious athlete would welcome the opportunity to play against someone so much better than she. That is how you get better. It isn't always about ego.
6
Go Serena!
1
I do not like the title because it sounds to me participating in the tournament is merely to win your opponent, to win the title or something. It is really overlooking the nature of competitive sports, one of which is to get better via competing. There are so many players out there who review playing Williams as an honor. Ms. Halep just uttered that 'I want to play Serena' in Toronto. Overstating one thing leads to misleading on another.
Here we go again. Serena as "victimizer" of poor smaller weaker women. I've never seen coverage of a champion from the perspective and "feelings" of the less talented opponents. But this champion continues to be portrayed as a big bully interloper of weak women who need protection. How about Serena has taken the game to a new level and women's tennis has failed to cultivate opponents able to compete at the new level?
14
Other players should feel lucky to have the chance to play against Serena Williams. It is no doubt a humbling experience; however, it is also a valuable one.
1
At this point in time the only player who can beat Serena is herself. Fortunately, for the other players Williams remains vulnerable to a playing a bad match and or facing an opponent playing the match of their life. This is Tennis.
1
I am sure this is a well intentioned article by its author, but one still wonders. Which male tennis player (or female) has been profiled in such fashion?
Was Pete Sampras (or Roger Federer in his prime or Rafael Nadal on clay) not intimidating for any player to face?
Yet are the male players referred to as "terrifying" match ups? "oh he's so big (so much bigger than me!)?" "oh he's so strong?" "oh he might pulverize me between his fingers?"
Unfortunately this article continues a history of media caricaturing of Serena Williams and her sister. Again, I am sure the intentions are good. But the patterns it reflects are anything but good.
Was Pete Sampras (or Roger Federer in his prime or Rafael Nadal on clay) not intimidating for any player to face?
Yet are the male players referred to as "terrifying" match ups? "oh he's so big (so much bigger than me!)?" "oh he's so strong?" "oh he might pulverize me between his fingers?"
Unfortunately this article continues a history of media caricaturing of Serena Williams and her sister. Again, I am sure the intentions are good. But the patterns it reflects are anything but good.
16
Whenever I watch Serena Williams play I get the same feeling I got when I used to watch Muhamad Ali fight. Lucky to watch her in her prime; in the t.v. company of a player with the heart of a champion. A will that won't be denied through her grunts and exclamations.
Get a good look while you can.
Soon it will be over and we will be saying to ourselves, "remember when..."
Get a good look while you can.
Soon it will be over and we will be saying to ourselves, "remember when..."
7
There have always been Davids in history, who have brought down the Goliaths. As unlikely as it seems, it's always possible.
Juliet suggesting that opponents take a flight home rather than fight, clearly doesn't know what its like to be a professional athlete. It means always trusting yourself and never taking a step back. Maybe Hlavackova isn't the one, but someone somewhere surely is. And I'll be cheering for the underdog, as always.
Juliet suggesting that opponents take a flight home rather than fight, clearly doesn't know what its like to be a professional athlete. It means always trusting yourself and never taking a step back. Maybe Hlavackova isn't the one, but someone somewhere surely is. And I'll be cheering for the underdog, as always.
8
I think the Golliath is more in the opponents' minds than in reality. Like the one who sees Williams as 'so much bigger' at merely 4 inches and 20 lbs more than her.
5
Serena Williams is no Goliath. She has worked hard to perfect her game and to raise the level of women's tennis. This is what is expected of all athletes; this is why we compete. Psychological intimidation is also a part of this game, and many other games of sport; that's the point of the article. Hlavackova understands that being in a position where she can play the best is an achievement in and of itself. But this is no neighborhood children's softball game where everyone goes home with a trophy win or lose. I'll be cheering for the world number one. Go Serena!
8
Justine Henin!
"How intimidating is it to stand on a court across"
Ms. Bencic of Switzerland beat Ms. Williams by outplaying her at the recent Canadian Open. Ms. Bencic was simply a better player in that match. There are no doubt several female players with greater speed, better movement and equal or superior strokes who can beat Ms. Williams, even when Ms. Williams is playing well.
Ms. Bencic of Switzerland beat Ms. Williams by outplaying her at the recent Canadian Open. Ms. Bencic was simply a better player in that match. There are no doubt several female players with greater speed, better movement and equal or superior strokes who can beat Ms. Williams, even when Ms. Williams is playing well.
9
"There are no doubt several female players with greater ...."
And where have they been hiding these past few years?
And where have they been hiding these past few years?
2
I agree as a die hard Serena fan. I also think she has been plagued with the all too human emotion of stress at all the pressure. I disagree with many who say the field is weak. Bencic won when Serena played an extremely poor game however the two players who can give Serena a good run are Halep and Kivitova (well when Kivitova shows up). Matter of fact there are several players who are not intimidated by Serena and I suspect Bethene Mattek Sands will be one of them today.
I take nothing for granted like so many Serena fans. She is awesome but she is as human as the rest of the field.
I take nothing for granted like so many Serena fans. She is awesome but she is as human as the rest of the field.
1
When Serena Williams is playing well no one out there now can beat her. Bencic beat her when her serve had completely deserted her and even then it was close.
Wonder what the over/under is on how many times she screams "F***!!!" at the top of her lungs for all the litttle Serena wannabes to watch and emulate next time they're on the court?