The Williams Sisters' Finals Match Left Me Cold
After all the Wimbledon semi-final matches were complete and I contemplated the two mornings of Breakfast at Wimbledon on tap for the weekend I was hopeful that the Williams sisters would give us a good if not great finals match.
Well they didn't and more often than not that seems to be the case when they play each other for a championship trophy. It is frustrating to watch, the paying customers are quiet and the contestants are tentative. They aren't even close to playing their best.
I've heard it said that we can't imagine how difficult it is to win one of sport's ultimate prizes but have to beat your best friend and family member to do it. And while I understand that affects both Serena and Venus I am moved to ask why they can't seem to get past it after all this time.
I don't know the answer but I, like many in the audience was left cold by the match that was blessedly short and I was unable to exult with Serena when it was complete.
On Sunday while watching Federer's historic 15th Grand Slam win, this time over Andy Roddick I saw a match that while tense was anything but uncomfortable. It was high-quality tennis, efficiently played and it kept you on edge wondering who would make the one mistake it would take to lose. Neither man wasted energy on emotional gyrations about missed calls or unlucky bounces that they smartly conserved for what amounted to more than six sets of tennis.
So it's not like I needed to see the electricity of a Rafa Nadal match to enjoy great tennis. In the Williams sisters match, points were short and intensity was virtually absent. If you thought it was because Venus was hurting, think again. Within hours the sisters played the women's doubles final and beat a great Aussie team in straight sets. They were gregarious as they usually are when they play doubles and looked happy to be on the court.
And that is what was truly missing from their singles match. You get the feeling that they'd rather be anywhere in the world other than Centre Court but if they want a trophy they've got to stay put. The match reminded me of a boxing match when the combatants are feeling out their opponent in the first round or so. That eventually ends and a real fight tends to break out. No such luck in this year's women's finals.
In the past, when the sisters have been placed on the same side of the draw, it hasn't gone down well with them or the tournament directors. Much hand-wringing goes on about them meeting in the quarter-finals or the semis.
Isn't it time for us to say that if they aren't going to go all out and feel comfortable to win in their typical fashion that we'd rather see one of them against another opponent? I guess I just did that.
Follow Paula Duffy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jurisdiva
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I've been saying for years that tennis needs a Williams family public spat and subsequent rivalry.
Oops!
"... belief that (the) each sister isn't trying to win the match ..."
I'm in alignment with others posting here criticizing your comments about the Williams' sisters match. I love to watch both Venus and Serena and when they play each other, I have a difficult time picking which sister I will cheer for. I don't understand why there is the belief that the each sister is trying to win the match. I can only agree with you on one point - their match was not as exciting as Roddick/Federer, but that is not a fair measurement of their ferocity of competition with each other. I do believe there is a bit of snobbery that underlies criticisms leveled at the Williams' sisters. Other critics like to claim that the sisters are not "real" tennis players because they are not as devoted to the sport of tennis as other top players. I am very proud to have such fine US players to cheer on and I wish they did play more matches only because I love to watch them so much.
I don't think anyone is saying that they fix matches when they face each other. It appears that there is some lack of intensity when they play each other, and they openly state in interviews that they don't like playing each other., It shows. It isn't that they aren't trying, it's that there is a tentativeness that isn't there when they play other people. As if they are afraid they are going to hurt each other's feelings and yet they both want to win. there probably isn't anything that can be done about it other than by the sisters themselves. We just have to pick our favorite Williams sister to root for and hope she doesn't face her sister in the final...
I'm going to continue to ask...at what point in their match Saturday did it look like they were tentative and or afraid to hurt each others feelings?
Did they hit their serves with less speed? Was Serena any less aggressive and dominant on Saturday?
I simply don't see it, and none of the so-called sports fans or even the author have given a breakdown of what took place on the court.
I can't believe you are slamming their on-court play. These two titans of tennis (Venus & Serena) keep making it to the finals because they are clearly the best players. And we will continue to see them until someone knocks them off. Period.
In what is still a "country Club " sport, I celebrate the fact that the Williams Sisters are high-achieving African-Americans, and represent serious, kick-butt talent. Why don't you write a post about how there are no non-white faces in the broadcast booth for any of the matches? NONE! For years, this has been the case. Why not write a post urging tennis (and the networks that broadcast it) to have nonwhites in the booth, at a time when there are more nonwhites playing professional tennis (and watching professional tennis) than ever before.
But you want to write a post about what you claim, what you believe, is lackluster play between the sisters? Wow. Okie dokie.
SeanGardner: thanks for your comments. Their clear superiority on court is the reason I wrote the article. They often do not replicate their great skills when they play each other. That is the sole issue I have.
I will continue to ask, what skill did they NOT display during that match?
You have yet to go into any detail about the match itself, only categorizing it with the laziness of a summer day.
I saw blistering forehands and serves being ripped by Serena on her way to winning the match. What skills did they not replicate that you've seen them display in the past?
Since I was rooting for Venus...I did feel let down. I completely disagree with you. Serena had to fight her way to the finals and Venus had an easier job of it. It is what it is. I have seen the 2 play great matches against each other. The second set was simply not a heated one.
what I find funny about your article Paula is the COMPLETE ABSENSE of exactly what took place on the court between both sisters.
Devoid in your article was the ebb and flow of what exactly took place in Saturday's game. My comments spent more energy describing what took place on the court than your article did.
You gave a round about explanation about the game and spent most of your energy tying it to the Fed/Rod matchup and why disappointed you rather than explaining the game itself to justify your belief.
For anyone interested in the score, Serena won 7-6 6-2.
Who are any of us to say that they didn't go all out against each other?
Based on what Roddick and Fed did?
Anyone who watched the match between both girls saw that Serena simply overwhelmed Venus in the second set. I don't recall seeing any visible "letdowns" or taking it easy on each other. Serena aggresively and decisively beat her sister....period.
While all of the intrigue and dramatics didn't come into fruition, I think you're doing a disservice to the sports profession, believing that the Williams Sisters gave less than great effort on Saturday.
Point blank, it was a dominating performance by Serena....period. No woman in the world was going to beat her on Saturday.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Based on their individual tennis matches and even their doubles performances it's not difficult to see the stark difference.
Paula Duffy
Their performance in doubles was not an indicator of what transpired in their singles match up.
Venus and Serena could not break eaith others serve in the first set, while Serena simply wore down her sister in the second set.
I'd like for you to give examples of them going easy on each other at any point in that match, rather than you sticking to the lazy and unoriginal Williams talking point that's been around for years, where they fix matches and take it easy on each other.
Simple solution for Venus-Serena match up: they should make a side bet between the two of them, like for a family heirloom or some such; something they each really want and do not want the other to win. The winner would obviously get the trophy as well. They could play a great match; I bet they play some great sets in practice.
Great idea jbird1222.
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