"I got criticized for not looking directly at Lindsay Davenport" - When Venus Williams came under fire for post-match handshake after maiden Slam win
Venus Williams once opened up about facing criticism for her post-match handshake after her maiden Slam win at the 2000 Wimbledon Championships. She was 20 years old when she won the tournament.
Williams defeated defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the final of Wimbledon, winning 6–3, 7–6(3) to claim the trophy. This victory marked the beginning of her dominance, which would later see her add six more Major titles to her career tally.
On her way to the championship match, the American triumphed over the likes of Kvetoslava Peschke, Ai Sugiyama, Nathalie Dechy, Sabine Appelmans, Martina Hingis, and her sister Serena Williams. She lost only one set during the tournament, to Hingis in the quarterfinals.
During a media interaction in 2013, Venus Williams recalled her 2000 Wimbledon win and mentioned that she was criticized for not looking directly at Lindsay Davenport during their handshake at the net. She explained that it wasn't intentional and that she was simply "just excited" after winning her first Grand Slam.
"When I won Wimbledon the first time I got criticized for not looking directly at Lindsay (Davenport) or something," the former World No. 1 said (via USA Today).
"I think I was just excited. I think I kind of shook hands, and I was in the middle of still jumping. You know, sometimes you don't get it right," she added.
Venus Williams: "I give credit to my opponent and try to hold my head up high even if I didn't win"
In the same 2013 media interaction, Venus Williams shared that her approach, even in defeat, is to "give some credit" to her opponent and "hold her head up." She stressed the importance of sportsmanship, regardless of the outcome:
"I want to give some credit to my opponent and try to hold my head up high even if I didn't win. So I think that's what it is for me."
The American referenced a scene from the movie 'The Princess Diaries' to illustrate her point, saying that players sometimes have to "pretend" they are happy even when they aren't, especially after a tough loss.
"Ever see that movie Princess Diaries? And the grandmother teaches the granddaughter how to do the wave and the smile?" she said.
"So when you're feeling terrible and like, 'Why did I lose!' you have to pretend that you're still happy even though you might be really not happy or you're still in shock that the match is over. I think it's somewhat like that. Especially when you lose sometimes you have to put on the happy face, for me at least," she added.