tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post6724682993357046498..comments2024-03-11T05:26:34.143-05:00Comments on Women Who Serve: Wimbledon day 6: Jankovic and Kvitova upset defending championDianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-78262286008767414672015-07-05T14:07:49.858-05:002015-07-05T14:07:49.858-05:00Thanks for reminding us of that quote, jwr. It say...Thanks for reminding us of that quote, jwr. It says it all.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-6589370028317246852015-07-05T13:36:42.659-05:002015-07-05T13:36:42.659-05:00As to Eric's question, Martina Navratilova sim...As to Eric's question, Martina Navratilova simplified it for me several years ago during a Tennis Channel commentary. I don't remember the match or the exact quote but the essence was this (and she was specifically relating it to how she and Evert were perceived vs. the way Roger and Rafa were then being perceived).<br /><br />"When a woman dominates the tour it always proves how weak the tour is. When a man dominates the tour it always proves how great the man is."<br /><br />I also remember that Bill McAtee basically bullied her into silence. The Narrative always has to be protected. Granted Serena's race (or, more accurately, the culture's abiding racial insanity) complicates things even further, but ALL dominant female champions, including Evert, have caught some degree of the same.jwrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672233905937568654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-7333016003357902962015-07-05T09:45:15.437-05:002015-07-05T09:45:15.437-05:00Ah, Eric, I forgot to address your other question,...Ah, Eric, I forgot to address your other question, but the answer is "I don't know." During the Steffi-Monica era, I was involved only in watching the tennis and kind of took a break from attending to the culture of tennis. I think that, for me, anything after Chris and Martina may have been a letdown, or maybe I just didn't find Graf that compelling as a personality. As for Chris and Martina, the first was considered the sweetheart, and the second was that iron curtain lesbian who keeps beating our Chris! In the U.S., at least, I don't really remember much balance.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-8630462479686842632015-07-05T09:41:52.671-05:002015-07-05T09:41:52.671-05:00I've actually been under the impression that S...I've actually been under the impression that Serena's dominance is more appreciated now than it used to be, but maybe I shield myself from the worst of it (I do try to stay away from Internet things that upset me a lot). But yes, she has a history of being polarizing, though not so much the last few years, since we got the "charm school" version (I liked the old version) of Serena. And I think that race will always be a factor. <br /><br />For overt bigots, the only thing worse than a successful, large, black woman would be a successful, large, black, lesbian woman! But there is, of course, an unconscious cultural bigotry that always runs in the background. Remember that women's sports isn't taken seriously--only men's sports--so Serena's dominance may not be seen as the mind-boggling accomplishment that it is, but rather just a symbol for "those girls who play tennis." In that case, I'm sure people would much prefer a Sharapova or a Wozniacki (I say this with no disrespect whatever to Maria or Caroline--just making a point). <br /><br />I saw a thread on some sports forum yesterday in which commenters were discussing how "gracious" Serena was toward Heather. "Oh, yes--she's always been so gracious," people said. I cracked up. For years, the main complaint against her was that she incapable of being gracious to her opponents! It just goes to show you--revisionist history is happening every moment. People remember nothing and do not relate anything to anything. Don't get me started.... :)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-73927649631227776992015-07-05T00:00:11.510-05:002015-07-05T00:00:11.510-05:00Diane, Have you noticed that people are hating on...Diane, Have you noticed that people are hating on Serena's dominance? i was thinking how Federer, even when he was at his obnoxious best, he was/is always loved.<br /><br />I was trying to figure out if the ire was bc Serena-is-polarizing thing, or a woman thing, or a race thing... I mean I suppose Rafa never experienced the hate bc he has never totally dominated. Djoker is more similar in terms of domination...but he is still *respected*. I mean, maybe this is bc Serena (Goliath) beat Heather (David)... but seriously, I've heard so many negative comments about Serena/state of women's game/wish she'd lose already. Maybe it's all of the above.<br /><br />I mean enjoy her skill while it lasts...bc like everything, it will fade/end, probably sooner than err one thinks.<br /><br />Was it like this for Steffi? I mean Martina and Chris Evert balanced each other out... Steffi was utterly dominant...especially after The [horrible and unthinkable] Incident with Seles.<br /><br />========<br /><br />TOTALLY did not expect Kvitova to lose today. I thought she was going to steamroll some more.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861122308109064514noreply@blogger.com