I, like many people, don't follow tennis closely. I pay attention a little during the major tournaments, but other than that I don't know much about the sport. I can remember, however, when Serena flipped out in 2009. I can also remember it being brought up nearly every time I heard someone talk about her until the last year or so. No one talked about it in the context Citizen does, though. They talked about it as if she just went crazy for a few minutes.
Everyone who wrote that Serena went crazy should read Citizen. It brilliantly explains all the incidents that led to Serena's snapping. It makes you realize she was completely justified, and it makes you shocked she held it together for so long. The obvious racism she encountered throughout her career makes you wonder why that aspect of her life is not discussed. In a way the media is just compounding the problem by not talking about these experiences when discussing her outburst. Serena is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and her outburst at the 2009 US Open is perhaps the largest blemish on her career. However that blemish is largely because the full story is not being told, and it is time that people learn that story and talk about Serena's restraint rather than her lack thereof.
It's sad that everyone assumes that Serena "went crazy." So few people realize that she was lashing out against a system of discrimination. I agree, the full story of Serena needs to be told.
ReplyDeleteI think that the media portrayal of Serena recently has been very positive, which is good. Although some people may still see her outburst in 2009 as "crazy," it seems like the media has recognized their flawed view of Serena and largely support her now as a woman and athlete. She is definitely one of the best women in tennis, and the media should focus on her skill instead of her attitude on the court.
ReplyDelete