Serena complaining about playing on Court 2

Hello everyone,

I have just watched Serena's interview where she was complaining about being sent out to No.2 court.
I seem to remember former greats like Lendl,Becker,Connors and even the peerless (at wimbledon) Pete Sampras have played on the court.
If I am not mistaken Sampras lost in 2002 on Court 2.

Serena tennis existed before you so stop complaing and get on with it.

What they tend to forget is their current position in the rankings.

They aren't at the top!

Serena should have been on centre or court 1. Not because of ranking or even because of the number of Wimbledon trophies that she has on a shelf at home but because she is a big crowd attraction.

I do think some faces "fit" at Wimbledon and some don't. Crazy! No other entertainment buiseness would do this to one of their top attractions.

Are early round Williams blowouts big crowd attractions?

I appreciate it didn't end up like that, but the pre-match perception would always be that this would be a 50 minute match.

I know they like to have two mens matches and one women's on the show courts so the matches last long enough so that there is a decent amount of tennis on show each day. Serena's match certainly doesn't deserve to be above Li vs Lisicki or Sharapova vs Robson, despite her star factor. Sharapova (and probably Robson in this country) probably pull a bigger crowd, and Li deserves a show court for her year so far.

She is the defending champion. She has no business being on court 2 no matter her current ranking. They wouldn't do that to Roger or Rafa, absolutely no way.

Lendl, Becker,Connors and even the peerless (at wimbledon) Pete Sampras were not defending champions when they played on Court 2.

It is an insult to Serena and an insult to the WTA IMO to stick the defending champion on an outside court.

Roger and Rafa would always generate the enough interest to warrant the place on a show court though.

Serena vs no hoper doesn't.

I do agree that it's perhaps a little unfair, but the two WTA matches they picked deserve it far more.

djlovesyou wrote:Are early round Williams blowouts big crowd attractions?

I appreciate it didn't end up like that, but the pre-match perception would always be that this would be a 50 minute match.

I know they like to have two mens matches and one women's on the show courts so the matches last long enough so that there is a decent amount of tennis on show each day. Serena's match certainly doesn't deserve to be above Li vs Lisicki or Sharapova vs Robson, despite her star factor. Sharapova (and probably Robson in this country) probably pull a bigger crowd, and Li deserves a show court for her year so far.

I'm not totally convinced that the big crowd pull is always a potential close match. If that were the case a match between two players ranked closely even if they were outside the top hundred would always be favoured against a first round match featuring a big name. Most people want to see the big names. You don't get a much bigger name in tennis than Serena Williams. If I had to chose a womens 2nd round match to watch I know what I would chose!

Serena moans too much. Yesterday she was in tears about being back from the dead, today she isn't happy about number 2 court. I know she is a great champion, but there are other more watchable matches and players, what's the big deal?

the organisers probably got it right, hewitt has as big a following as anyone and the match with soderling was one of the best of the day

Well if anyone can point me to an example of a men's defending Wimbledon Champion playing on Court 2 then I will stand corrected.

But to my knowledge, it has never happened and probably will never happen so the only conclusion can be that sexism is at work here.

I view it more as a calculated insult to the WTA than the Williams sisters. It is like Wimbledon are saying; you might have dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21st century on the equal prize money issue but you know what, you ladies are still the undercard.

icecold wrote:Well if anyone can point me to an example of a men's defending Wimbledon Champion playing on Court 2 then I will stand corrected.

But to my knowledge, it has never happened and probably will never happen so the only conclusion can be that sexism is at work here.

I view it more as a calculated insult to the WTA than the Williams sisters. It is like Wimbledon are saying; you might have dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21st century on the equal prize money issue but you know what, you ladies are still the undercard.

Well not a defending champion but I can remember when Nadal was put on the old court 2 (worse than the new one) in 2007. He was ranked 2, seeded 2, Wimbledon finalist the previous year and had just won the FO for the 2nd time. He had also just completed that infamous match against Soderling (played over 5 days because of rain delays and poor scheduling). I've always thought the reason he was "punished" in this way was because he dared to complain about the scheduling of his match with Soderling. If that was the case Serena should be very wary. Wonder where they will put her next...

I'm not too sure what people want.

Big names to get their due, fairness for the fans or fairness overall.

If it's about big names getting their due, you don't have the Tsonga/Dimitrov game and you have Serena instead. Fairness for the fans you probably leave it as it is with two ATP games per court to maximise play time, but perhaps put Serena on instead of Li Na vs Lisicki. Or fairness overall, you would perhaps keep things as they were because of the two ATP matches per court for play time (and given the fact that ATP is more popular that WTA in this country) and that Li Na does deserve a show court (for at least one early match) as the standout women's player of the year.

Not always easy to please everyone, but AELTC were probably naive if they didn't expect Serena to play the race card.

I think it is okay for Serena to "complain" about being sent out to court no 2 (did she really complain?) and it is also fair for the AELTC to put the seventh seed on court No 2.

Nore Staat wrote:I think it is okay for Serena to "complain" about being sent out to court no 2 (did she really complain?) and it is also fair for the AELTC to put the seventh seed on court No 2.

Schiavone was seeded five at Roland Garros but as defending champion she played all of her matches on Chatrier or Lenglen. That seems about right to me.

Let's hope for an improvement in the weather and I for one am pleased that Serena is back. She does seem to have had a dreadful time with medical complications.

Nore Staat wrote:Let's hope for an improvement in the weather and I for one am pleased that Serena is back. She does seem to have had a dreadful time with medical complications.

I'll drink to that. The WTA has really missed her quality.

'I view it more as a calculated insult to the WTA than the Williams sisters. It is like Wimbledon are saying; you might have dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21st century on the equal prize money issue but you know what, you ladies are still the undercard.'

I think you have to be realistic here. The male players bring in the crowds far more than the female players do; this isn't being sexist, it's just a fact. Many people would buy tickets to Centre Court if they knew Federer or Nadal were playing; I doubt they would buy them just to see Serena Williams play. The WTA have got it pretty good in that the women's game is of inferior quality to the men's yet they are still awarded equal prize money; I think the demotion of the part-time women's defending champion to Court 2 is a small price to pay.

I can see why Serena would complain, but the fact is they need some variety on centre court and i feel even if she was on court 1 she would have had a moan, over the last few years i have come to think arrogance and rudeness might just be part of her (Horrible) character, that does not however take away from her amazing ability in tennis.

Also, she needs to respect the game a little more (Not to mention the All England club who have treated her like a Queen in the past) and realise that no matter where or when she plays, she has the immense talent and luck to play the games she loves everyday of her life if she wished and earn million from it, it should not matter what court she plays on, is it the game or the attention she loves? did you hear Wozniacki or Murray moan on Court 1? or Djokovic? NO!

Finally, for somebody who seems to be so selective on what comps she plays at you'd think she would have a little more tolerance for people playing games!

To be honest after the USO thing i couldn't care less about her - abhorrent woman.

Agree 100% with Tom, amongst other outburst's.

I really am sick to death of Serena Williams, she acts like a spoilt child. Ok she is defending champion but she has been out of the game for 49 weeks. He ranking and seeding reflect this. Court 2 is hardly in the middle of nowhere either is it. I really hope she and her screaming sister dont win it.

eirebilly wrote:I really am sick to death of Serena Williams, she acts like a spoilt child. Ok she is defending champion but she has been out of the game for 49 weeks. He ranking and seeding reflect this. Court 2 is hardly in the middle of nowhere either is it. I really hope she and her screaming sister dont win it.

Totally agree

The Na-Lisicki match was a good match on CC yesterday. Instead of complaining, she should have waited to see if the second week puts her on the CC.

Similar threads about other players 'deserving' specific courts do not make any sense. CC is not a 'royal' throne and other courts are not gulags. They are all at SW19.

Players who feel an entitlement (or perhaps respective fans who feel that it should be given should respect the organisers). The other option is to form 'player support committees' and demonstrate at SW19 for 'perceived' equal rights.

Del Potro (slam winner) is not on CC, but on Court 2 as well.

MunsterJoe...

You may want to comment on this post as well.

https://www.606v2.com/t7816-what-a-way-to-treat-defending-champion

Serena Williams receives support from the head of the WTA:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/13899869.stm

Of course the head of the WTA is a sensible person. The same can't be said for some here.

What did you think the head of the WTA would do?

Are you suggesting there was a chance he wouldn't stick up for one of his tour's biggest assets?

I can understand fans being upset because she's defending champion but it says a lot about Serena if she moans about being on court 2. Does it make that much difference? The Williams sisters, however talented, do not have a God given right to be on the top 2 courts and they should get on with the tennis.

What is sexism is getting paid equal money for 3 sets of work and for generating less ticket sales and lower tv ratings. Really if anyone has a complaint of sexism its the male players who are forced to play best of 5, who generate way more interest in the game, and yet have to make equal prize money. God I can't stand the williams sisters I just wish they would retire. They don't show up for most of the year and then they have the audacity to complain about sexism. No what is sexism is getting paid the same amount of money for less work and for generating a smaller share of the revenue.

Just judging by the dearth of posts here on this and every other website on woman's tennis compared to men's tennis, why are the women being paid the same when hardly anyone is interested in their play. I have gone to Indian wells a few times, when the woman's match comes on half the fans leave to go eat or get a drink or watch a men's match on the outside courts. What is sexism is being forced to pay these women the same prize money as the men who work harder and generate most of the revenue. That is sexism Ms. Williams. Besides your the number what ranked player in the world?

bye bye Serena,

At least you won't have to play on Court 2 again, for this year anyway!

BATH_BTGOG wrote:bye bye Serena,

At least you won't have to play on Court 2 again, for this year anyway!

Totally agree !!!!!!!!!!

So pleased she is out. Good riddance!

I don't mind Venus, in fact quite like her, but Serena comes across poorly and should have been properly punished for her USO incident. The authorities were too scared to do anything - gutless.

As far as the pay argument goes needs a different thread.

Maybe next year she'll whinge about playing on No1 Court.

she wont need to worry anymore

I think the most regrettable part of the incident was the implied rascism that Serena threw in, and on which nobody dared call her out. Her sister stood by loyally, as she must anyway, but without the dirty stuff. Venus has always been a cut above Serena when it comes to behaviour.

Sharapova made me laugh on TSN when they tried to get her into it and she just said she doesn't mind where she goes, the Club are always fair and it's no problem.

Anyway, the good news is that Bartoli did the event a favour.

socal1976 wrote:Just judging by the dearth of posts here on this and every other website on woman's tennis compared to men's tennis, why are the women being paid the same when hardly anyone is interested in their play. I have gone to Indian wells a few times, when the woman's match comes on half the fans leave to go eat or get a drink or watch a men's match on the outside courts. What is sexism is being forced to pay these women the same prize money as the men who work harder and generate most of the revenue. That is sexism Ms. Williams. Besides your the number what ranked player in the world?

The answer is quite clear. Political correctness. There is no commercial rationale (as you say, the courts empty for womens matches and just look at the prices of Debenture tickets!), the match lengths don't justify it either.

socal1976 wrote:What is sexism is getting paid equal money for 3 sets of work and for generating less ticket sales and lower tv ratings. Really if anyone has a complaint of sexism its the male players who are forced to play best of 5, who generate way more interest in the game, and yet have to make equal prize money. God I can't stand the williams sisters I just wish they would retire. They don't show up for most of the year and then they have the audacity to complain about sexism. No what is sexism is getting paid the same amount of money for less work and for generating a smaller share of the revenue.

No reason why women shouldn't play best of 5 though - are they given the option?

I can see why Serena complains, but she's wrong.

The AELTC obviously want to play two men's single matches and one women's single match on each of the show courts - this achieves the right balance for numerous reasons: (a) men's tennis, and particular the top 4 players, is far more popular than women's tennis; (b) that means that they can be pretty confident that they get a good long day's play - two women's matches and two men's matches might go well over time, two women's matches and one man's match might go well short; (c) they need to preserve the surfaces for the last 5 days' of intensive play; (d) they need to sell debenture seats and they need to put on the most popular matches.

If you've only got two women's matches per day on a show Court even the likes of Serena will have to play on Court 2 from time to time - which is far from the graveyard it once was. She's being mischevious.

I actually like some of those other courts, the court Mahut and Isner played the marathon at (18) last year is a beautiful place.

She's not box office when there were four stellar mens matches being played.
Typical premadonna.