Is anyone else watching the Wimbledon’s women’s semi-final match between Dementieva and Venus Williams? Every time Dementieva does anything right, gets a point, etc. the crowd cheers wildly. Also, even if just one of Williams’ shots goes out of bounds they cheer wildly. Meanwhile anytime Venus gets a point the crowd falls into a quick hush with quiet disappointment being heard. It gets quiet like a funeral happened, like it’s the worst thing they’ve ever seen.
What blatant disrespect, WOW! Wimbledon I lost some respect for you and English tennis in general. You should be ashamed of yourselves. This goes far beyond backing one opponent over another, there is no sportsmanship here from the Wimbledon crowd. There’s not even a spark of “well, we don’t want her to win but good match.” Not even a shred of that kind off attitude. Just a stark contrast between the crowd’s reaction to everything that Dementieva does and everything Williams does.
This is obvious if you are watching the match, no ifs ands or buts about it. So if you want to comment, make sure you were or are watching the match. Because if you are there is no getting around the blatant almost racism of Wimbledon fans. (If you didn’t watch the match and want to comment don’t bother I’ll just delete it.) I just sat for ten minutes again to watch to make sure and…. YUP… blatant disrespect. No denying it. English tennis fans you can go to bloody hell.
9 responses so far ↓
Richard // July 4, 2008 at 5:29 am |
I saw the match. I was also watching when Zina Garrison and Lori McNeil were cheered to their respective victories over Steffi Graf by the Wimbledon crowd in 1990 and 1994.
We British support the underdog most of the time. And although it could be argued that the Williams sisters were the ultimate underdogs for achieving excellence from a public parks background in a historically white-dominated sport – and they don’t get all the credit and respect they deserve – they have sometimes been their own worst enemies, failing to give credit to their opponents on the rare occasions they lose (although Venus is definitely getting a little better in that respect).
Dementieva (like Jie Zheng) was getting trounced. Just like Bartoli was against Henin last year. I thought the crowd’s attitude was very similar to that match where initially they were embarrassed by the one-sidedness and started really getting behind the underdog. And they were still applauding Venus’ good shots. There was of course the extra factor that few people think Williams vs Williams finals are as intense as sport should be – not their fault, but they just don’t have that killer instinct and intensity against each other. Anyway, my main point is that I think you’re wrong to put it down to a general racism within the crowd. And generally I think that, although of course there is racism over here as everywhere else, it’s a more integrated nation than most others, including the States.
I do think there is sometimes a racist dimension to criticism of the sisters. But I also think you can see racism where none exists. Dementieva is a popular player. She is honest about her horrendous serving, she doesn’t moan about being put on outside courts unlike Jankovic. And because she’s never won a grand slam we know it would mean so much more to her. Same with Zheng, who seemed to have a great personality and has given ALL her prizemoney to charity (no $100 per ace clause for her).
I don’t dislike the Williams sisters, though I definitely find Venus more likeable than Serena. I don’t always want them to lose. In fact when Venus beat Davenport in the final after facing 4 match points I was happy because she was so excited. But in this kind of situation if I were in the crowd I’d be applauding Venus but cheering for Dementieva. I don’t think that is racist, in fact I’d be upset if anyone accused me of that.
Ed T. // July 4, 2008 at 12:36 pm |
I guess it was just enthusiastic cheering for the underdog,…. but you have to admit, the Williams sisters have never been liked by the British or the British media, that cannot be denied. and why exactly is that?
Richard // July 5, 2008 at 3:39 am |
I agree they don’t get the respect they deserve, Ed. And even people who realise how extraordinary they are hold them in admiration more than affection. Maybe it is something to do with their demeanour on court and their style of play which is devastating but a bit charmless and so brutal that your average fan identifies more with the person on the other side of the net.
Is that particularly a British thing though? Of course they get patriotic support at the US Open but I don’t get the sense they are loved over there either.
Maybe you have a point though. Sometimes I watch their matches at Wimbledon and feel embarrassed that the sisters are jumping around and beaming after a win and the crowd are not really giving much back. I’m just not sure it’s fair to put that down to racism. I don’t even think great champions like Sampras or Navratilova were truly loved by Wimbledon crowds. Maybe we just like vulnerable losers – hence our lack of success on the court!
Ed // July 5, 2008 at 3:43 pm |
You make your case very well, Richard, and I have altered the article slightly
Richard // July 7, 2008 at 4:22 pm |
Thanks – I feel kind of bad that you changed it. It’s your blog and your opinion is as valid as mine, was just putting the other argument.
All the best.
Juanita // September 20, 2008 at 11:43 am |
I think it’s due to racism. A few years ago, I would have liked to deny that, but almost every time I look up an article about Venus or Serena that has a blog attached, there is a very insulting, mean and racist post. Sometimes more than one. I have also noticed the same behavior during their matches. It’s like the whole crowd does not want them to win. It makes me pretty sad and also kind of hateful in return. At work, I am pretty much the top at my job as a developer, and I have to deal with the same thing. If I complete a successful project, which is most of the time, I have to deal with the hatred and jealousy of my peers and even one superior. It’s not a good feeling.
Ken Lucas // March 9, 2009 at 5:26 am |
I am a black male, and I no longer look at blogs concerning the Williams sisters because they are hate-filled diatribes. I see people calling Venus a “spider monkey”, and Serena a “gorilla”. I see hateful words like “f**king nigger”, “Aunt Jemima” and so forth.
I see assinine things like: “Oh yeah, Serena beat Sharapova, but Maria is much prettier than Serena”, and other small-minded, juvenille comments.
I’ve lost total respect for most white tennis fans. I really have!!!
UGK // July 4, 2009 at 5:38 pm |
It is racism. Dont let Richard or anyone fool you.
This is not unique to Britain but global problem in White dominated audiences.
I have seen what kind of treatment that the Williams sisters get from non-black commentators, spectators and internet forum posters.
It reminds me so much of what the heavyweight boxing legend Jack Johnson went through.
But he was an ‘in your face’ type of guy to the white racist community and he would smile at the racism thrown at him whilst he posed.
Although over 100 years later, the Williams sisters dont experience so much overt racism, the hatred is still there. And like Jack Johnson they seem to only perform better because of it.
It is hilarious to watch Williams sisters win and then show the sullen and depressed looking faces of the racist studio presenters and commentators.
as // July 4, 2009 at 11:16 pm |
Oh god,nothing annoys me than other whites making poorest excuses to cover up the racism that is shown toward these girls.Europe is alot less racist than the U.S.It just so happens the racism that is there comes with Tennis lovers who are used to seeing white skinned females as victors.As a white male myself its so freaking obvious the pathethic,immature,ridiculous racist comments that come from alot of Williams sisters dislikers are generally from racist caucasions with no sense of education whatsoever.