Category: Opinion

If she was a boy, then she could express her disgust for a ruling or challenge an umpire without being unfairly penalized or fined.

The issue: Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and the 2018 U.S. Open. Well, actually, the issue is Williams, the umpire, the standards set and the penalties and fines levied to be exact. For context of the situation, see below:


Source: WPTV | West Palm Beach Florida

Williams was fined $17,000 for that outburst on Saturday. She, then, lost the match to Naomi Osaka. Did it mess with Williams psychologically? Maybe. But the bigger issue is that male tennis players have made similar outbursts–some much worse–without receiving the same harsh punishment.

At the 2001 U.S. Open, Lleyton Hewitt was never fined for this exchange with an umpire:


Source: The Aussietralia

and even the following outburst by John McEnroe at the Swedish Open didn’t equal the fine levied against Williams at the U.S. Open today:


Source: Sweet69ification

McEnroe was fined $2,100 for that outburst besides the penalties he took. Today, considering inflation from 1984 to 2018, that would mean McEnroe’s outburst was a fine worth $5, 093.48. Really? He smashed his juice cups, told off the umpire and was disrespectful to the game in Stockholm. He acted like a 3 year old in a game that was held for grown men.

It is easy to understand the frustrations one has when one is ultra-competitive or a perfectionist. But there is a standard and one has to meet that standard. What is not okay is for the standard to be one way for men and another way for women in the game of tennis, or any sport for that matter.

In the words of America Ferrara: