Celebrity slip is a shame for the game
A tennis umpire worldwide commences a game uttering what sounds like "Love all". To the French, it means "l'oeuf" (pronounced love), an egg (and so a zero) for players on both sides of the net, but the unwise rest of the world feels flattered that such a romantic overture should forewarn the warring opponents.
In the 2018 US Open final on September 9 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, that was not heeded by Serena Williams, who destroyed everything that sports stand for in one afternoon of poor judgement, not the umpire's in the least. To me, a meagre fine of USD 17,000 slapped on Serena in no way compensates the indent on the young who rapturously follow her or repairs the hole in the reputation of the great game.
Being illegally coached on-court from the gallery to forcibly smashing her racquet may in modern times be considered acceptable etiquette in jocular club level sparring over beer and 17k dollars of peanuts. But, to call the umpire a "liar and a thief" while yelling and angrily pointing her index finger is a red card in any game, and disgusting demeanour at any age-group in any measure of interaction. She survived being thrown out of the courts because the authors of the game could hardly perceive centuries ago the arrival on stage of a queen who would lose her cool and her crown during her quest for her 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal the all-time record held by Margaret Court since 1973.
It has also been a matter of wonderment why her coach Patrick Mouratoglou was not penalised for code violation by signalling expert tips. Serena denied that her coach had been coaching her even though the Frenchman admitted to media that he had and that "all coaches do it". Perhaps they don't get caught. Or, the signalling is camouflaged, for example, where picking the left nose conveys attacking the opponent's left flank. Maybe he got out because he was honest; but that was after the match.
Given that perhaps she had never served better in her career, considering her vast experience, reassured by her winning record, and weighing the difference in ranking, she must have viewed this year's final as cakewalk, but a 20-year old Japanese josei stood in the way. Serena learned the hardest way that no competition is won until the umpire pronounces, "game, set and match".
Besides throwing unacceptable tantrums, Serena's other turpitude on the afternoon was robbing the ultimate Champion Naomi Osaka of her finest moment yet; she beat Serena 6-2, 6-4 in their first ever meeting. The biggest achievement of her life was ruined by a biased crowd, which actually booed before Serena signalled them to stop. Few in the crowd perhaps knew that Naomi is a resident in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and maintains US nationality along with Japanese and Haitian.
During the trophy presentation amid the jeering, Serena had this to say to her fans, "Let's give everyone the credit where credit is due. Let's not boo anymore. Congratulations, Naomi! No more booing!" That could be a world's first, a loser pleading with her supporters.
Winning big time is not new for modest yet spirited Naomi. Two years ago, at 16, she defeated former US Open champion Samantha Stosur at the 2014 Bank of the West Classic in her first main draw appearance of a Women's Tennis Association tournament. So, why did Serena and her fans not take that into account?
Yes, the Melbourne Herald Sun cartoon of Serena by Australian illustrator Mark Knight was grotesquely racist, sexist and misogynistic. But, one evil mind (or two, if you insist on unfairly dragging seasoned umpire Carlos Ramos) does not represent millions of fans acquired over an awesome and enviable career spanning a quarter of a century.
Celebrities are not raised on a pedestal for their accomplishments alone; they are icons for children and young people to look up to. Created by the mass media for their achievements in especially entertainment and sports, occasionally intellectuals and politicians (not otherwise associated), many forget that with fame comes responsibility. Before millions watching her on television, that is where Serena triple faulted that day.
Serena is not the first celeb to throw her toys out of the crib. And, unfortunately she won't be the last. Men are better at this though. In the 1995 Wimbledon, Tim Henman (then 20), frustrated at being broken, took a ball from his pocket and blasted it with his racket to hit ball-girl Caroline Hall from close. Years later in 2003 at the same tournament, Greg Rusedski saw his serve broken against Andy Roddick by an erroneous call from the crowd, was left furious and the umpire refused to replay the point. Rusedski lashed a ball at the back wall.
Two years ago at the All-England Club, Victor Troicki, just two points before defeat, saw his opponent Albert Ramos-Vinolas being awarded an ace and demanded the umpire look at the ball for traces of chalk. The same ball he then launched into orbit and branded Damiano Torella "the worst umpire in the world", refused to shake hands with his Spanish opponent and continued to aim insults such as "idiot" at Torella. In 1995 at the same venue, Jeff Tarango was furious after being denied an ace by umpire Bruno Rebeuh. He got into a shouting match with the crowd telling them to "Shut up" and called the umpire "the most corrupt official in the game". In 1981, denied a point, tantrum "luminary" John McEnroe called umpire Edward James an "incompetent fool", but he went on to not only win the match against Tom Gullikson but his first Wimbledon title by beating rival Bjorn Borg. He was fined, and he declined to attend the champions' dinner.
Sports since long has been putting enormous stress on achievers to drive them to further success, more money and greater glory, if that is possible. Sports at the highest level has lost the simplicity of purpose—why people with or without equipment indulged in sweating it out, only to embrace an opponent, if any, in the spirit of camaraderie.
The sporting world will hope that Serena, 36, will have enough time to ponder over her costly slip. Fans and not-so fans will want her to win the next one to launch her ascent to that remarkable 25th Grand Slam title for the sake of taking women's game to a new height.
No apologies, Mrs Serena Williams, but I was always your fan. You may have lost a few more.
Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed is Vice Chancellor, BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT), a practising architect, a Commonwealth Scholar and a Fellow, a Baden-Powell Fellow Scout Leader, and a Major Donor Rotarian.
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