Serena Williams ‘had to have therapy’ after US Open row
Serena Williams reopens debate over her US Open row, blaming the media and misogyny.
Serena Williams has reopened the debate surrounding her controversial US Open row last year, claiming that it was an example of women being penalised for being themselves.
On the same day that the 37-year-old moved to within two wins of a record-equalling 24th grand-slam singles title at Wimbledon, a first-person article by her appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, an American women’s fashion magazine, giving further thoughts on the reaction to her outburst during her defeat in the final by Naomi Osaka, of Japan, last September.
Williams was fined $US17,000 for branding Carlos Ramos, the Portuguese umpire, a “liar”, “thief” and “sexist” after he penalised her a point and then a game during the second set in New York.
“This incident — though excruciating for us to endure — exemplified how thousands of women in every area of the workforce are treated every day,” Williams wrote. “We are not allowed to have emotions, we are not allowed to be passionate. We are told to sit down and be quiet, which frankly is just not something I’m OK with. It’s shameful that our society penalises women for being themselves.”
In this candid, first-person essay, @serenawilliams opens up about last year's controversial match at the US Open—and why she’ll never regret using her voice to speak out against injustice. https://t.co/ponD4BGMie
— Harper's Bazaar (@harpersbazaarus) July 9, 2019
Ten months on, there is little sign of Williams accepting responsibility for her behaviour that night. The docking of a game in the second set followed the sport’s three-strikes procedure. She was first warned for illegal coaching from her mentor, Patrick Mouratoglou, who admitted to making gestures. She then had a point deducted for breaking a racket in frustration, and finally a game for verbal abuse.
“Every night, as I would try to go to sleep, unresolved questions ran through my mind: how can you take a game away from me in the final of a grand slam?” Williams wrote.
The aftermath proved so challenging for Williams that she sought therapy. She also sent an apology to Osaka — who broke down in tears during the trophy ceremony — but not to Ramos.
“I started seeing a therapist,” Williams wrote. “I was searching for answers, and although I felt like I was making progress, I still wasn’t ready to pick up a racket. Finally I realised that there was only one way for me to move forward. It was time for me to apologise to the person who deserved it the most.”
Part of her apology read: “As I said on the court, I am so proud of you and I am truly sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing in sticking up for myself. But I had no idea the media would pit us against each other. I would love the chance to live that moment again.”
The timing of the publication of the article, in the second week of Wimbledon, seemed curious. A post about it appeared on Williams’s Instagram account during her three-set quarter-final victory over Alison Riske. “It was planned months ago,” Williams said last night. “I wasn’t quite sure when the magazine was going to come out.”
The Times
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