If you didn’t know, Serena Williams was knocked out of the U.S. open on Tuesday after losing to number 1 seed Justine Henin. After the press conference (above) the media pounced on her saying she was graceless, and one reporter even said:
“Who’s classless now? The grumpy, borderline nasty disposition that Williams displayed after her loss was a little jarring considering she had her own lack of preparation to blame for giving in so easily to Henin. Serena was bitter, angry and upset. She directed some of that at Henin. Who could use charm school now?” [SOURCE]
Personally, I think the media is blowing this out of proportion. She was obviously upset (almost to the point of tears) so she let it out. Watch the video and give your take.
Venus ecstatic after her win. (GETTY IMAGES)
In other tennis news, Venus is still in the competition. She just beat Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals and is matching up with Henin in the semifinals. Here is her take on the Serena situation:
“I wasn’t happy with that result at all. I was sad that she lost. I didn’t like to see her so upset,” Venus said. “I definitely have to try to win for Williams.” [SOURCE]
Good luck Venus and keep your head up Serena!
I heard the interview..I don’t think she was classless…she was PISSED off. I think she acted okay considering the circumstances of what she ccould’ve said.
Men are taught to be blunt, forward and unapologetic….dont blame Serena blame biology.
do ur thang vns
I’m pissed too – dammit!
The media are always trying to criticise the Williams sisters.
I don’t know if she was being arrogant, but it’s NATURAL to be UPSET. I believe that she may have been taken out of context, or might have been suffering from fatigue or exhaustion. Let her regain her breath and then let her talk. It’s not fair to bash her right away.
Still, I’m supporting Venus. Girls really found form since winning Wimbledon.
the media always wants to tear you down! do your thing Serena!
D-MAN shut the fuck up. Serena is an athlete so of course she is going to be shaped like one. I’m sick of you losers coming on here dissing her. She earned her spot in the history books, what the fuck have you done?
Thanx for keeping us updated Angel.
Should Serena have done some cartwheels or something?? Give her a break. She loss. And the media needs to stop asking stupid questions.
see what I mean, but don’t blame BABYGINA either…..its biology
WTF!?!?!? The “media” has ALWAYS had something negative to say about the Williams sisters. Maybe they rose to fame too quickly & basically gave a new face to tennis. I don’t want to say it’s racially driven but I do have to wonder why they are always being discussed.
What do U expect from a someone who did so much to get back at a level to compete . She was upset but I’ve seen similar interviews from other tennis greats and John Mack would have smack a reporter for same questions . It’s like when U ain’t coonin’ for the media and show some actual emotions . They try to make U look all fucked up !!!!!!!!!!!
The Media is so stupid.. its because they don’t want her to be the best that’s why they are responding that way… this happens with every sport where the players are upset after losing a big game.. NFL, NBA… Stop jumping on her because she is one of the best players. I’d be pissed for when not winning also, but she isn’t blaming anyone, she is blaming herself. better luck next time ReRe. Who gives a damn about the media.. they are just hating of course
who in the hell is happy about losing. give the girl a break. its human nature to be upset about a lose especially if you didnt perform to your best. the media is a bunch of jerks fa real. they just love putting salt in a wound. i love the williams sisters. i wish them much success.
it was funny how she said that she had to come or she would have been fined cuz if she keeps losing she wont have the money to pay them. now thats keeping it real
The reason why she is so good is because she is competitive. She was upset about losing. Point blank. She didn’t disrespect anyone.
I bet they’d feel all sad and sympathetic if it was some blonde tennis chick losing like Maria Sharapova, who then felt sad.
She was clearly hurt- absolutely devastated by that loss. Is that the whole clip? There was nothing tasteless about it, really.
These white devil commentators aren’t biting their tongues anymore, and its quite obvious they’re just trying to drag her name in the mud.
I hope Venus avenges her loss.
The only thing about that interview that lacked class was the “lucky shots” comment. That was disrespectful to her opponent. I understand being upset, but sometimes you have to suck it up, put your poker face on & admit your faults & that the other man won. I work in the women’s professional sports industry (WNBA), after a loss best believe our girls are pissed!…but once that reporter gets in their face..they put that poker face on. They wouldn’t dare discredit the other team (publicly), because at the end of the day, no matter how many “lucky shots” you think the opponent had….the fault still falls on you, and your lack of whatever.
I still have love for Serena. Her & her sister have done great things for the black community.
i wonder if it had anything to do with her new love..i know sometimes that can distract you maybe partying more too can keep you from doing your best..i don’t know just a guess..but i’m really sad she lost ..we all know that she’s capable of winning it all but i know she’ll come back harder next year and take it…
#2 YOU COULD HAVE KEPT THAT TO YOU’RE DAM SELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHE WAS UPSET AT HER LOSS DAM THE WHITE MEDIA.
THATS O.K VENUS WILL SURELY BRING THE SILENCE ON THIS FOOLISHNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the William sisters and as a black man was impressed in seeing some sisters running shit and being unapologetic about it and being strong role models. None of that im thankful that you let me in but SHIT i belong here because i am the shit and can play the best tennis in the world BUT the MEDIA is right to an extent especially if this was simply being upset about losing. You are supposed to be arrogant and unapologetic to get to the star status that the Williams sisters have achieved which is a place in the history books and the Tennis hall of fame but if you almost NEVER can give an opponent “You know what she played a better game today than i did” Not she made lucky shots i call a sore loser.
I watched the match which was great the first set they both were really aggressive because they have a rivalry (which is a certain mutual respect) but being gracious to an opponent is good sportsmanship.
I do agree that the media does blow things out of proportion and does pick on the William’s sisters but after watching them play for their entire career and seeing press conference after press conference when they lose and almost never give an opponent credit for winning speaks for itself – sore loser. I wouldn’t call it class less (the media was dead wrong for that shit) but i don’t think Justine Henin who has won 6 of the last 10 tournaments shes been in this year and is currently ranked #1 in the world won because she made lucky shots.
The Williams sisters still run shit they both won grand slam titles this year – Venus, Wimbeldon and Serina the Australian Open.
Yeah, but the media tolerated “MUCH” worse from John McEnroe and he’s their hero. Gotta watch out for media and entertainment and all that, it’s double edged.
They just hating on a sista. She can be mad if she lost hell is she supposed to be happy?
I don’t see a classless woman, I see a very competative woman who’s upset that she lost. Now, she does occasionally have temper tantrums but give her a break!
What she should’ve done was taken a few hours or a day to relax her mind and then do the press conference.
I agree complexndope
The price of being a celebrity…u can’t even get pissed off!
She deserves to be a little upset, she’s human ! We still love ya Serena !!!
I THINK IT WAS CLASSLESS AS WELL..
MANY OF YOU WHO AGREE WITH HER COMMENTS AND ACTIONS MAY NOT BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE TENNIS WORLD, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING KNOWN AS “COURT COURTESY” AND SERENA LACKS THAT.
YES, SHE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE UPSET BECAUSE SHE LOST, BUT YOU DONT DISRESPECT YOUR OPPONENT BY CLAIMING SHE MADE “LUCKY” SHOTS.
THATS BLATANT DISRESPECT TO THE # 1 PLAYERS IN THE WORLD.
I DONT THINK THE MEDIA IS OVER EXAGGERATING AT ALL BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONTINUALLY A PROBLEM WITH SERENA. WHEN SHE LOSES, SHE WONT GIVE CREDIT TO HER OPPONENT.
WHEN VENUS BEAT JELENA LAST NIGHT, JELENA WAS SO GRACIOUS AND CLASSY, SHE THANKED VENUS FOR A GREAT MATCH AND STATED THAT SHE SIMPLY LOST TO THE BETTER PLAYER ON THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT AND WISHED HER LUCK IN THE REMAINDER OF THE TOURNAMENT.
THATS WHAT TENNIS IS ABOUT! KINGS AND QUEENS PLAYED TENNIS IN THE 1800S SO IT WILL FOREVER BE A GAME OF CLASS AND DIGNITY..
P.S. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SHES SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE LOSS, ITS NOT LIKE SHES BEEN PLAYING GOOD TENNIS THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT.
P.P.S. CONGRATS TO MY GIRL VENUS! GREAT MATCH AND I WILL BE ROOTING FOR YOU IN THE SEMI AGAINST HENIN!
nah….admit it. Serena was a little salty in that interview. i mean, gone are the days when she dominated everyone and everything on the tennis court. this wasn’t a very professional response from her….and i’m not gonna pretend like how she behaved was acceptable.
HOWEVER……it’s not extremely noteworthy either. the media that’s still harping on this, need to get a life. ASAP!
@complexndope… I concur 100%…
Serena is still awesome at Tennis. Go Venus
What’s is wrong with being upset. I think (especially) in a sport like tennis, you can only be angry at yourself. So what she used the term ‘lucky shots’…that is no big deal. She admitted that the girl played well …blah blah blah. Get off her back. She JUST finished playing and people are trying to pick apart everything she said. Gimme a break.
I just realized something, she would get fined if she didn’t show up at the press conference. If thats true, then what does the media expect? What they got was raw emotion from a talented, competative champion who’s probably disappointed in herself.
Serena’s is probably saying, “Today, I’m piss the F@%k off….Tomorrow, I’ll say congratualtions and send flowers. Until then, leave a bitch alone!!!”
Yean Serena was a sore ass loser of a woman. But she aint classless. But I think she need to get out of that dream world. Justine Henin, the number one player in the world dont win becuz SHE JUST MADE LUCKY SHOTS. No Serena she won becuz she stay in the gym, stay on the court training and practicing. While your out doing photoshoots and movie premieres.
You got your but kicked Serena. Now learn from it and focus back on tennis so you can be at 100% otherwise you’ll be getting sent home from a lot more grandslams.
I wouldn’t say it was classless and I wouldn’t say its classy either. She pissed because when you lose you don’t hear the questions, you hear them taunting you because you loss. Do you hear some of the questions that reporters ask after the game to these athletes that lose? They be like you sucked can you tell us why? She shouldn’t be disappointed @ all cause she made it that far to play a #1 seat.
Congrats to Venus and I hope she bring it home.
Clearly she was upset, but she is a professional tennis player and she is expected to act accordingly. This is not the first time that she has had a pissy attitude because of a lost, and I do think that some of the things she said about the other player were inappropiate. She needs to handle her losses better or STOP LOSING!
@27 I agree Serena is a sore loser we can’t win all the time nor does that discredit your talent. Losing is part of the game. Someone has too lose and someone has too win. It takes Maturity and Class to give credit where credit is due Henin was the better player and there was no luck about it she insulted her and that was not cause for at all. … That is what makes the situation classless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mmmmmmm Damn Didn’t she lose!!!
WTF was she suppose to do click her heels and wish to be back in compton C’mon
Good luck Venus!!!!!!11
Sore LOOOOser Syndrome…I mean really…Be a woman of class…Congratulate your opponent and move forwared…Dont blame the media for her acting like a fool…they are reporting what they observed…
had she acted like a true champion – we would not be discussing this…
I agree with the Media…CLASSLESS AND GRACELESS ….she is crying over being beat by the #1 player in the world.. Ms. Williams, take your attitude home to your mansion..there are People in New Orleans still without shelter and your are pouting over a lost tennis match…one you lost at your own hands….
and then get upset when your ridiculous tirade is reported…GURHL PUHLEEZ
John Macinroe would be proud.
Classless is just the wrong word. Poor sportsmanship is more like it.
Cocky and arrogant can fit in there as well. I’m disappointed that someone who beats down folks on the regular has the audacity to say that the chick that beat her
was “lucky”……Serena…..Boo.
“I don’t feel like talking about it really.” SMH
kind
When you’re playing on Serena’s level, there’s bound to be intense emotions, but she does need to get it together. This type of display feeds into the stereotype that all Black women are bitches. It’s called professionalism.
This was a no win situation for Serena, if she had came to the press conference passive, they would have sad that she doesn’t care. However, now that she is showing her raw emotion after a tough loss- proving that she does care they want to criticize her. Many members of the media, including tennis commentators have been hard on the Williams sisters. After their sister was murder and they were mourning, and the fact that they hav had injuries the tennis world critcize them for their lack of play. Also, Henin has had her moments that could have been called classless as well through her career. At the 2003 French when she held her hand up doing a match to stop play and would not fess up to it, and in 2006 at the Australian Open agianst Amelie Mauresmo whom she was losing to badly and she rertired from the match claiming she was injured, but was “healthy” enough to stand around during the trophy presentation looking well. So there is history there as well, Henin is no angel. Serena was not suggesting that Henin is not a great player she has admitted the opposite in fact many times, it’s just that when the Williams sisters are on they are the best and no one is up tp par.. point blank!!!
ITS ALRIGHT TO GET UPSET BUT SHE SHOULD HAVE NOT ANSWER THEM QUESTION WITH A ATTITUDE. SHE IS PROFESSIONAL AND SHE NEEDS TO ACT LIKE THAT. THE GIRL DIDNT MAKE A LUCKY SHOT, SHE WAS BETTER THEN SERENA. SERENA NEED TO GROW UP….ITS A GAME. PAY THE DAMN FINE AND MOVE ON….YOU GOT THE MONEY. SHE WAS CLASSLESS!!!!!!!!!! POINT BLANK
She just lost, she’s upset!!!
Damn, black women can’t express any emotion without being called out of our name or chastized. Damn, can we be human for once.
Athletes and coaches get upset, look at almost any Bill Parcells press conference, and he is angry, and nasty with the media, but they say he is funny beacuse he is an old grumpy white guy, I have yet to hear anyone in the media refer to him as classless.
These people are a joke, the media will do whatever it can to take away from Venus winning her match. Serena lost the night before Venus played and then had that press conference. If she was so “classless” why wasnt it addressed then? If she made such a stir why didnt they address it then instead of waiting to the next day after Venus played some remarkable tennis and defeated Janovic? Why is that even in the headlines after Venus’s match? What she did out weighted anything Serena said after her match. They always trying to steal them girls glory. Serena is known for making comments like that, it her M.O. Its the little things the media does that gets to me. Like calling Serena, Venus and Venus, Serena. These girls have been playing tennis how long and you cant get their names right. They all laughed like a year ago when Andy Roddick said he was gonna go out and get drunk to deal with his defeat. I follow tennis and this will be like the first time in 5years that a Williams sister makes it to the finals if Venus wins her upcoming match. Plus Venus just won Wimbleton and if she wins the US Open too that is highly unheard of. To win those two back to back. So they do anythink to overshadow it. Tragic
. GOODLUCK VENUS!
@megan it’s not about being black. it’s about being a professional. ppl on the board who see nothing wrong with her attitude are making the mistake of forgetting that she is a professional tennis player. she’s not the average girl playing. ppl know her and respect her. there is a certain way that she should present herself whether she is upset or not. i’m a teen and even i know to comport myself better.
she’s not the first to be a sore loser and won’t be the last. i never thought she was a classy chick anyway (the ugly tennis outfits she used to wear, the weave she used to sport, etc.) and always knew she was a sore loser but she isn’t the only one. everyone knows justine is a b****. for those of you who think it’s a race thing, trust me the media has talked a lot about justine’s attitude on the court. HOWEVER she’s never belittled an opponent in interviews so idk. and john mcenroe should never be brought into it. the guy did those things b/c he thought the media would love discussing it and the media knew that. he’s like the teen queens of hollywood who do crazy things so that they’ll be in the paper the next day
She was just upset that she lost and when you lose you dont have too many good things to say, as a professional I think she should know better than to in a way discredit people by callin their skill luck , but hey everybody makes mistakes and the media is once again trying to take one little mistake and make it look like she shot somebody…to call her classless was uncalled for
at the end of the day she’s a professional athlete and this is the life she chose. if she doesn’t want to do press conferences, she should quit playing tennis. she lost and it was her fault for not practicing or playing well AND due to the fact that justine outplayed her. simple as that. give credit where credit is due and be an adult and a professional. jelena almost cried last night too but she was still GRACIOUS. it aint about justine’s past or anyone else’s past behavior. own up to YOUR OWN faults and be accountable for SELF. we always say we want to be treated a certain way and that we’re portrayed a certain way. hell, just do the right thing!
45. And thats your take on it and that’s mine.
Women period are put on the spotlight for expressing human emotion more and please don’t be Black doing it.
I don’t see anything wrong with the after report she was a little bit rude to the people interviewing her and the reporter was right you won’t win every game and you always have next year to look forward to.
I just think their should have been a period for her to gather her thoughts after the game maybe she shouldn’t have jumped right into the interview!
Sorry girl maybe next time!
she has the right to be upset. plus, those reporters ask the dumbest questions! “how do u feel?” i mean really…how do u THINK she feels???
It’s a war on young blacks plain and simple. Our black leaders are affraid to stand up against it. They spend thier time fighting the N-word and hip-hop.
HEADS UP EVRYBODY
Congress to Hold Hearings on Misogyny in Hip Hop aimed at Black Women and on other negative portrayals of bw in the media. go to
whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com
yeah its racial, and it always is!!!!
Ms. Gottabody
Thursday, September 6, 2007
WTF!?!?!? The “media” has ALWAYS had something negative to say about the Williams sisters. Maybe they rose to fame too quickly & basically gave a new face to tennis. I don’t want to say it’s racially driven but I do have to wonder why they are always being discussed.
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Yeah, I think you might be right about that one Ms. Gottabody. I DO NOT want this to be a cliched ‘race’ debate but I do wonder about their response to Serena. No one said anything bad about how much of a star that Anna Kournikova (the pretty blonde Russian tennis player) had become, and she let fame get the better of her, cause her career went to shit and now shes just eye candy. Venus and Serena have become celebrities, BUT ARE STILL PLAYING AT A HIGH STANDARD, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. They went through a lot of problems, like injury, and the tragic loss of their sister in 2003, but they bounced back. Perhaps the media should acknowledge that.
I personally think that it is pure jealousy. Some cocky ass sports analysts are just mad bacause it’s not them winning tournaments and having adoration and inspiration. I wouldnt have cared if they said they were shocked or surprised by her interview, but they have to talk like they a critic, when they’re not.
And another thing, the Williams sisters introduced the POWER GAME to women’s tennis. That’s why so many of these women on the circuit have stepped their game-up!
My whole issue with the “classless” remark is that all the media failed to mention that Serena actually said the Justine played great. When they run the “lucky shots” quote, they all failed to mention the she congratulated her opponent. There were a couple of “lucky shots” but the were far too many errors by Serena that cost her the first set and ultimately the match.
It is funny that Justine Henin was not called a “cheater” for having her coach help her throughout the match. During the broadcast they show Justine’s coach help her make calls and how to adjust her game. Why isn’t she being vilified in the press?
Serena was in a no-win situation. If she would have skipped the interview she would have been deemed sore loser, but instead she took part and was frank with her emotions and now things have been blown out of proportion. It has nothing to do with race, in my opinion, just specifically with Venus and Serena Williams and their tumultuous years in tennis.
Venus better win this whole damn thing.
I’m getting tired of they always losin now
it wasnt classless….she was just upset….clearly….yes this is being blown out of proportion……it wasnt like she was ranting and raving and cussing like a madwoman…she didnt wanna talk about it she only came cuz she didnt want to get fined and that was that………life doesnt get tht serious where you must over analyze ones reaction to a loss to the point of calling it “classless” that is classless in itself.
I watched the snippet of the Interview, and I don’t think that Serena was “classless” at all.
For one thing, Serena said that she didn’t want to be there, and that the only reason why she showed up for the interview is that she didn’t want to be fined.
She also said that the other player WAS better that night, and she got some lucky shots.
What was so wrong with her saying that ?
The anchorperson/sportscaster was Racist to harp on that one thing that she said over and over.
Serena was upset & tired. People sometimes overreact or say things that they shouldn’t when they are upset & tired.
Caucasians always have this attitude that Blacks should always be grateful and complimentary to other.
That’s a very unrealistic expectation to place on a Black Woman who has just lost a highly competitve game.
Peace
ITA with KILLERVIRGO 100%