"I respect and admire Serena beyond measure"

[Tursiops]

[link:https://www.mediaite.com/tv/nbc-sports-analyst-mary-carillo-at-her-worst-serena-williams-acts-like-a-bully/|

"Mary Carillo, former professional tennis player turned NBC Sports reporter, said that Serena Williams acted like a “bully” at the U.S. Open on Saturday during her explosive loss to young tennis star Naomi Osaka.

Carillo first noted that Carlos Ramos — the chair umpire who stoked controversy at the US Open on Saturday after handing Williams three code-of-conduct violations, the last one awarding her opponent Osaka a game in the second set — is “very, very respected.”

“He has been doing big matches for decades,” she said.

“At her very best — and she is very often at her very best — I respect and admire Serena beyond measure,” Carillo continued. “She is so powerful, she’s an important voice, she’s a ferocious competitor.”

“But at her very worst, as she was on this night, she acts like a bully,” ..."

[Awsi Dooger]

1. Ugly bully tendencies when things are not going well

I'm amazed so many people are willing to ignore it: "You're ugly on the inside" and "I'll kill you," among many others. This time Serena was told by her coach to start going to the net and immediately she does it and wins points, as described by the match commentators. Then Serena has the audacity to use sexism to deflect the lie, saying she is a mother so how dare you claim I am cheating. Meanwhile her coach concedes yeah I was coaching her from the stands, like always.

It is certainly not ignored on the tennis forums, where similar incidents from lesser events are known in great detail.

Serena is now 2-4 in her last 6 grand slam finals, while chasing the all-time records. No doubt those high profile failures have worn on her. She has failed as huge favorite several times, including in the Wimbledon final.

Women's tennis right now does not have great depth at the top, unlike prior eras. So the USTA and the tour in general are protecting Serena. The USTA quickly removes videos from YouTube that display Serena at her worst. They would prefer those incidents to go away. If it were an era with Graf and Seles and Hingis all at or near their best simultaneously, then Serena could play the villain role instead of standard bearer.

I have to say it is hilarious when people who don't follow sports closely suddenly jump in and have all the answers.

[stopbush]

3. Also lost in the conversation is how unfair it would have been to Osaka

Last edited Mon Sep 10, 2018, 05:38 PM - Edit history (1)

to not have enforced the rules against Serena.

Serena’s behavior served to get the crowd on her side, and against the ump and Osaka. Osaka did nothing wrong, was a model competitor who had taken the first set 6-2, was up a break at 4-3 in the second and was serving to go up 5-3. She was on her way to victory. She was running Serena off the court. Serena could have and should have taken the coaching warning to heart. Every tennis player knows that the penalties escalate if bad behavior continues or escalates.

Don’t smash your racket = no point penalty awarded. Don’t verbally abuse the ump = no point or game penalties awarded.

[Tursiops]

4. And to the guy who made 450 dollars for the night

His reputation will be forever stained for basically doing his job. And this has happened with female refs and lines people too.

[CatMor]

5. The first set was Osaka 6-2 not 6-0 .....

the second set I have seen Serena come back with a bigger deficit than she faced before the controversy.

[stopbush]

6. Thanks. Fixed the typo.

[onecaliberal]

2. I'm sorry, but Mary is full of shit.