When it comes to Wimbledon there is not much that I disagree with. As an example I was one who thought the decision to put the Isner-Mahut match on Court 3 was a very good one while colleagues thought it was silly...
When it comes to Wimbledon there is not much that I disagree with. As an example I was one who thought the decision to put the Isner-Mahut match on Court 3 was a very good one while colleagues thought it was silly and they should have been on Centre or Court 1 after their record-breaking effort last year.
That match deserved attention but not as much attention as people were going on about. Sure it was a story but geez, with total respect to both of them; neither is one of the big guns, plus the new Court 3 has a great vantage point from the Player’s Balcony and it also satisfied players who were interested in that match.
Anyway, I digress, but one words I mentioned before is at the centre of what I want to address here, “respect”. It relates to the ladies defending champion Serena Williams and the people at Wimbledon doing the scheduling. They got it very wrong.
I and all my colleagues in the media were at a loss to understand the thought process in scheduling Serena Williams to Court 2 for her second round match. I totally disagree with it. It was a stupid decision and the general feeling is that no respect was shown to one of the greatest women players of this generation.
I say up front I could be seen as having a vested interest in this because I work on Serena’s website but putting that to one side I still maintain it was a poor decision. If it was just I with that view then you could say I was biased, but it was everyone.
Would the Club put Rafael Nadal, the men’s defending champion out there, or Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic or, heavens above, Andy Murray? Not a chance, they are only on Centre or Court 1 and that’s where Serena, a four time singles champion, and her sister Venus a five time champion should play.
Look, there is nothing wrong with Court 2, it’s a new, smart looking court but it is not one of the two premier courts where champions at this level should be showcased.
“They're (Nadal and company) never moved across (and) Venus and I have won more Wimbledons together than a lot of the players or by ourselves in doubles even,” Serena said. “So, you know, at the end of the day, I don't know. Like I said, they're not going to change, doesn't look like. So I don't know.
“I don't really think about it. I don't make it a big issue. I think at some point maybe I should. I don't know. I just really try to focus on not going down on Court 2. At least now they have a review (Hawk-Eye) out there, so I do like that. It was much better than the old one that was actually closer. I really hated that court.”
Serena can’t understand why it is done to them. It is frustrating but they still go out there and play and win. They don’t down racquets but put their pride in their pockets. The Club has fallen down on the issue of respect and what these two women have done for women’s tennis.
In 2002 the Club scheduled Pete Sampras on the old Court 2 and he lost to George Bastl of Switzerland in five sets in the second round. Sampras, rightly, had stuff to say about that poor decision but it also became the last time he ever played at Wimbledon. That was not the way to treat the seven time champion just as it is not the way to treat Serena. She has paid her dues.
Serena has taken the high road. She’s gets on with it and tries to win. The Club needs to take a look at things and not make this error of judgment again.
What do you think?
