Serena Williams outraged by Russian tennis chief's sexist slur, but is this part of a larger pattern?
Insensitive comment elicits swift response from WTA
The No. 1 player in the world, Serena Williams, is not a happy woman right now. And why would she be, when the president of the Russian tennis federation (RTF) Shamil Tarpischev has the temerity to refer to the pair of Serena and Venus as the “Williams brothers”?
Tarpischev was appearing on a chat show where the host of the program said, "I was at the Olympics, where Maria Sharapova was in the final, playing with one, with one of the ..." before the RTF head responded by saying "Williams brothers".
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) was quick to take action against Tarpishchev as they imposed a fine of $25,000 and suspended him for a year.
The Russian drew sharp criticism from several quarters after his remark. Serena herself addressed the media in Singapore and appreciated the swift action by the WTA in response to the comments.
"I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying. I've done the best that I can do, and that's all I can say. So I just wasn't very happy with his comments. I think a lot of people weren't happy as well,” she said.
"But the WTA and the USTA (United States Tennis Association) did a wonderful job of making sure that - in this day of age, 2014 for someone with his power, it's really unacceptable to make such bullying remarks, “ she added.
Support for Serena from all quarters
Maria Sharapova, who is competing with Serena for the year-end No. 1, ranking defended the WTA’s move against her countryman.
"I think they were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I'm glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA," Sharapova said.
"It was very inappropriate, especially in his position and all the responsibilities that he has not just in sport, but being part of the Olympic committee. It was just really irresponsible on his side."
WTA chief executive Stacy Allaster said the comments were "insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place on our sport".
Is the man apologetic at all?
Tarpischev retracted his comments on Saturday, but stopped short of issuing an actual apology. “I regret that that joke, which when translated into English has been taken out of humorous context, was the focus of so much attention,” he said.
“I do not think that this story deserves such hype. After all, everything said on the air was said without malice.”
He then praised the sisters later, saying they displayed the “highest class of tennis".
Not surprisingly, Tarpischev may well be in line for even stricter punishment and greater sanctions. Last heard, the International Olympic Committee, of which Tarpischev is a member, was seeking an explanation from him about the controversial remarks.
Not an isolated case
Serena and Venus’s father Richard Williams was subjected to racism in their own country during the Indian Wells tournament in 2001, after Venus withdrew from her match against her sister in the semifinals of Indian Wells, citing problems in her knee due to tendinitis.
"When Venus and I were walking down the stairs to our seats, people kept calling me 'nigger," Richard said.
"One guy said, 'I wish it was '75; we'd skin you alive.' That's when I stopped and walked toward that way. Then I realized that [my] best bet was to handle the situation nonviolently. I had trouble holding back tears. I think Indian Wells disgraced America."
Serena came to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in 2007 after winning the Australian Open the same year. During her third round match against Lucie Safarova, a spectator called her a “nigger” and asked her to “hit the ball into the net like any negro would”. The racist heckler was removed from the stadium later.
"I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. It threw me off," Williams, said of the abuse at her 'home event'. "I shouldn't have let it bother me because growing up in Compton, in Los Angeles, we had drive-by shootings, and I guess that's what my dad prepared me for, but I'm not going to stand for it."
Two white students of Stellenbosch University in South Africa were accused of racism after they wore black paint on their faces to portray Venus and Serena at a costume party in Johannesburg. There were mixed views from students of the university about their expulsion, with some backing it and others feeling it was blowing things out of proportion.
Of course, all these incidents are in addition to the racist abuse Richard claims his daughters had to face as junior tennis players.
The WTA may have acted swiftly in the case of Shamil Tarpischev, but the larger concern remains: are Venus and Serena doomed to a lifetime of racial discrimination?