She's a mother. She's a fighter. She's the queen of the court. She's Serena Williams. She has redefined women's tennis and taken the world by storm with her grace, talent, resilience, and power.
Recently, Williams faced criticism at the 2018 U.S. Open after she got into an argument with U.S. Open final umpire, Carlos Ramos. She accused the umpire of being a thief and a liar after she was penalized for coaching and smashing a racquet. Williams expressed her belief that the umpire was being sexist against her. She pointed out that male tennis players have said and done much worse than she has and have gotten away with it.
Many perceived Williams' reaction as inappropriate. A New York Post article even called her a "sore loser." However, Williams is far from a sore loser. She comforted her opponent and told the crowd to stop booing at Naomi Osaka. Williams' reaction to the umpire's ruling may have been extreme. However, it was a reaction that came from her heart because she is constantly being discriminated against.
According to Deadspin, Williams has been drug tested by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) more than any other tennis player in 2018. The website reports that she has been drug tested five times this year, which is more than double the number of times top American women tennis players were tested.
During the 2018 French Open, the tennis champion made her way on the court with a black "Wakanda-inspired catsuit." Williams saw her catsuit as a way to inspire women and children. However, according to The Independent, the President of the French Tennis Federation saw her catsuit as disrespectful.
Bernard Giudicelli told Tennis Magazine: "I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena's outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place." Williams did not wear her catsuit just so that she can be bold; she wore it for health reasons.
The Independent reports that her catsuit helped her fight against blood clots. After she gave birth to her daughter, Olympia, Williams suffered from Hematoma, which is a collection of blood that swells outside of a vessel. Williams stated: "I almost died after giving birth to my daughter Olympia... I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from traveling to my lungs."
I cannot exactly pinpoint what is so disrespectful about Williams' attire, but what is disrespectful is for a man to dictate what a woman can and cannot wear on the court — especially since health plays such an important factor in why Williams wore her fierce catsuit.
In addition to being criticized for her outfits on the court, she has continuously been body-shamed by the media. Instead of praising her hard work, people tend to call her muscles "manly." Williams spoke with Harper's Bazaar UK Magazine where she discussed the constant body-shaming she has to deal with. She expressed: "It was hard for me... People would say I was born a guy, all because of my arms, or because I'm strong."
When a man has muscles, he is praised for his hard work and dedication. However, since Williams is a woman, she gets shamed for them. Williams' strength deserves praise, not name-calling or criticism.
Instead of focusing on the way her body is built, why not focus on her accomplishments? Why not focus on the 23 Major single titles or the four Olympic gold medals the tennis champion has won? Let's talk about her talent and achievements instead.
It is unfortunate that Williams has to stick up for herself so many times, but with the treatment she receives from the media, she is left with no other choice.
As former world number-one-ranked tennis player, Billie Jean King, put it in a Washington Post editorial:
"Women are treated differently in most arenas of life. This is especially true for women of color. And what played out on the court yesterday happens far too often. It happens in sports, in the office and in public service. Ultimately, a woman was penalized for standing up for herself. A woman faced down sexism, and the match went on."
In a moment where her integrity was tested, yet again, Williams was left with no other choice but to fight for herself. When Williams stands up for herself, she is not only doing it for respect, but she is doing it to set an example for her daughter and women of all ages. Williams' reaction was an example of a strong woman standing her ground.
Thank you, Serena Williams, for constantly fighting for women's equality on and off the court. You inspire and empower women each and every day.
