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Dis Guy
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O'Boy i can't believe Venus O,she's got one strong psychological mind  Wish I was mentally as tough as she is, she blew sharapova away like a rookie she didnt even allow her play like she doesn't against those shorter/weaker players though Venus' movement is getting somewhat rigid with her dandy long legs and all she still covered they court like a champ! As for Henin she is in another league at the moment, Serena's movement is not so fluid as well |
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davidylan (m)
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As for Henin she is in another league at the moment, Serena's movement is not so fluid as well
It will be amazing to see anyone muve fluidly with that amount of strapping on your calf. |
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Dis Guy
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I watched some of her games before this tournament, don't know if she was injured then but her movements were not that impressive. The Williams I know hits their return with authority  |
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Dis Guy
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bad news good news. hopefully Venus will be able to advance more. I'D like to see her dish out big serves to the little one aka Henin  |
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davidylan (m)
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she's been out of several tournaments due to injury. She did not play any warm up tournaments prior to Wimbledon because of that.
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davidylan (m)
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Responses to Serena's injury from the press, judge for yourself.'Gamesmanship', set and match to wily Williams
ALAN PATTULLO
(apattullo@scotsman.com)
SHE did not brazenly pump herself with performance enhancing drugs and neither did she deliberately scuff the ball with her foot in order to find a better lie. But Serena Williams has managed to ignite the debate about gamesmanship in sport with her win on Monday against Daniela Hantuchova, achieved in a manner that was as disputed as it was dramatic.
The former champion used all her experience to dispatch the Slovakian in the fourth round match on Centre Court. There was a lengthy debate with the umpire about a bathroom break she was denied, and stretches against the back wall as her opponent prepared to serve. All within the rules, but enough to spark debates yesterday over whether it was within the spirit of the game.
Less contentiously, Williams also employed her strength of mind and warrior spirit to turn a match that had been seized by Hantuchova back in her favour. Unlike in exams, where crib sheets are not permitted, Williams legitimately dug deep into her training bag as well as herself and produced a note on which was written a series of motivational phrases. Among them were aphorisms such as "You R No 1", and "My good thoughts are powerful - only negative thoughts are weak". There was not one which read 'win at all costs', but that is what she did.
In the world of professional sport, it is difficult to crucify her for this. But to see a former champion arguing with the umpire over an urgent need to visit the toilets was not the kind of drama anyone was looking for.
"Harrowing" is how one reporter described her three sets victory. The performance contained undeniable elements of courage, but who did not cringe when Williams demanded that she be allowed to use the bathroom prior to Hantuchova's service game? Permission denied, she then forgot all about her apparently bursting bladder at the end of the game, won by her.
Further words were exchanged with the umpire later, who informed her that she could only leave the court before her own service game. Williams took all this on board while glugging a bottle of water, her need to take a break not as intense as her need for rehydration that could barely have been brought on by her exertions. After her leg injury, described as a spasm-induced left calf strain, Williams moved stiffly round the court, although still managed to hold her serve to make it 6-6 in the second set.
Her behaviour has appalled some, with tennis fans posting their views on internet message-boards, and the BBC receiving so many complaints that the matter was debated by analysts John McEnroe and Tracey Austin.
However, others have described her fightback as one of the bravest performances seen in tennis. It's true that Hantuchova must now be ruing her inability to take advantage of the situation.
Regardless of how Williams tried to get herself back into the game, the Slovakian should have been able to win against a hobbling opponent.
Even then there was debate over the extent of Williams' injury. After losing a Hawk-Eye appeal, and at the height of her muscle trouble, she jumped up and down, before thrashing her racket against the ground. It was not long after she'D been left prone on the turf, clutching her leg.
It's possible the adrenaline assuaged the pain but Michael Stich, the former Wimbledon champion, raised concern about the match. "You're either injured or you're not, [and] I'm not sure what we saw," he said. Hantuchova dismissed the notion that Williams carried the leg injury into a third set - there was a further rain-break - and thereby letting herself off the hook. It's difficult to accept a loss at the best of times. Having to process the bleak thought you have lost to someone who is struggling to run must be crushing.
"In the third set I don't think there was anything wrong with her at all, there can't be when you are serving at 120mph," said Hantuchova. "It's so hard to play against someone who's been injured. You kind of feel sorry for them but you have to focus on yourself."
Onlookers were divided over whether the 2002 and 2003 champion had won with a lionhearted display or had used gamesmanship to put off Hantuchova. Margaret Kingley, 41, from Richmond, said: "I don't think she was over-egging the injury and it was an outstanding display. We could feel how much pain she was in and were wincing while she was hobbling around."
Lee Garvey, 32, from Chingford, said: "It was pure melodrama. One minute she was injured, the next minute she was making shots that Navratilova wouldn't have got to in her heyday. She wanted to put off her opponent - and that's just not tennis."
In the final analysis, Williams did just as Hantuchova said every tennis player must do - she focused on herself. To hell with how it looked, or how it is interpreted. She, after all, is through to the quarter-finals against Justin Henin.
And the Belgian, you may recall, benefited from a supremely unsporting French crowd, who almost bayed their delight each time Williams lost a point, at the French Open final in 2003.
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davidylan (m)
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Here are a few responses that followed the above article:
5. Malc.F, france / 8:00am 4 Jul 2007 Neither of the two Williams sister could ever be described as "sporting" throughout their careers,just as bad as Serenas appalling behaviour was the ludicrous shrieking and grunting deployed by Venus the day before. The real culprits are the gutless officials who either won't or can,t do anything about it.
We can only hope that they both lose their forthcoming matches so that Wimbledon can have a dignified champion.
35. 'Hezza / 7:25pm 4 Jul 2007 That is one of the freak sisters out - let's hope the other one is out soon and Wimbledon can return to a more sporting and gentlemanly place.
Black Chic! / 5:38pm 4 Jul 2007 As a black woman living in the UK, I have experienced various types of racism. I get on very well with the majority of people, but what I'm finding at the moment is whilst most people aren't racist on a conscious level, it manifests itself in other ways. For example, there is a much smaller window for mistakes before vilification rears its ugly head.
The reason race is an issue here is thinking about this logically, if Serena where a white girl from say Portmouth, would we really see the extent of hatred, criticism and finger pointing that we find follows this girl's every move. Is she really quite this bad? So bad that despite being so close to winning with a set up and a few points from victory, her appetite for dishonesty was so strong that she had to feign an injury and drag it out for the full three sets?
Its interesting that the two most hated people in womens tennis are the two black women (please correct me if i'm wrong by the way) for a very wide range of reasons from their being too strong (not to mention stupid), to them not being commited enough to tennis, to them being outright blatant cheats, to murmurs of possible performance enhancement drugs, to goodness knows what else.
If our every action was judged by the world as harshly as we judge this girl I wonder how many of us would not wither away in self loathing and hatred. Please give these girls a chance. They really cannot be as bad as that.
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j-girl (f)
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I'm not asking for too much this year.
1. I just want to see the William sisters in the finals like it used to be - regaining their glory old days. (this one might require fasting)
2. I just want to see Nadal and Federer in the finals like it almost always is.
Serena is a fighter, she deserves it.
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davidylan (m)
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Serena lost this afternoon to Justin Henin.
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Dis Guy
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where did you get that article from with those comments?  |
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dinozzo
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here is how I see it some people are just not happy a Black is winning here and in other tournaments too. Take for instance Maria Navratilova saying Venus has no right to judge Serena since she does not know whats going on in her head, she made this comments after Venus defended Serena and praised her for her bravery. and then these comments by these racist scums posted by davidylan. Its a shame we still see this kind of thing happening. Sharapova and some other players on the tour scream too when playing why is it when it comes to the sisters all hell breaks loose.
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davidylan (m)
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my dear its sad. If both of them were blonde hair blue eyed sisters, they'D be the poster girls for women's tennis. such a shame. Without the injury Serena was leading 6-2 in the first set and had come from 1-4 down in the second to level at 5-5! For a player to come back with such an injury and still win and people call her a cheat?
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dinozzo
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I can't see how people can be so stupid to think Hantuchova could've won that set. It was obvious Serena would've won it had it been she had not sustained that injury. I hope Venus wins this tournament to laugh in their faces.
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tng (f)
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my dear its sad. If both of them were blonde hair blue eyed sisters, they'D be the poster girls for women's tennis. such a shame. Without the injury Serena was leading 6-2 in the first set and had come from 1-4 down in the second to level at 5-5! For a player to come back with such an injury and still win and people call her a cheat? Now you know.I had seen through all that PC bull long ago. Its unfortunate serena lost. That would have been the icing on the cake.I hope venus meets the belgian in the finals and beats her. Anyway, that one na their business. Its on record that she beat the yeye girl. |
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RuuDie (m)
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whats all the raving about Serena, "racism" and stuff - i never went to the BBC site, still ain't been there but somehow, somehow i felt there was some kind of' leverage given to Serena during that Hantuchova game ! anyways, she didn't go out then; she's out now - Venus get ready for your own whooping !  @ Viee, don't mix your tears with that bottle of champagne |
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viee (f)
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Ruudie, we liveto fight another day B T W, Venus is on  Nadal is on too it will be a great morn no doubt |
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viee (f)
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Hewitt/Novak
tight game
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RuuDie (m)
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where's the champagne viee;
wad up ? you're kind'a low this morn - still haven't gotten over the shock of having your fav sista knocked out ?
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viee (f)
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nahhhh, im just kool Venus is making sure the smile stays on my face. just won d first set Davydenko/Marcos;what your take?
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tng (f)
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Nna na wa oh! Nadal is loosing abi has lost the first set. Thank God for venus, at least i can still talk.
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viee (f)
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wetin dey do Nadal? i never fully ecover SErena own make Nadal no give me more heartache o tng, i feel o |
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RuuDie (m)
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I've got this feeling that this is Baghdatis' year - he's half of the draw's been pretty tough but he's taking 'em all out as they come !
Nadal is messing up BIG-TIME ! hope he doesn't give me some mo' heart-ache; still haven't gotten over Canas !
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RuuDie (m)
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decided to keep my lips sealed c'os you're still in a bit of daze over sweet serena but since you've prompted me - venus will lose this match; she's losing steam already i think Nadal can still come back though thats the beauty of the men's game - you g'otta take 3 b'4 your opponent's counted but for the ladies take 2 and your opponent's out cold - cruel don't you think ! wonder why they don't just let 'em go the same length as the guys and they w'anna be getting the same prize-money   |
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RuuDie (m)
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Ok - where's tha champagne |
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viee (f)
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she has won already love rinse your glass pal |
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RuuDie (m)
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honey, been raising that empty glass up all day just waiting for you to bring the celebrations on |
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tng (f)
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guess u can safely say Nadal is You can say that again. Am so sad. just hope something happens atleast make my guy reach quarterfinal.  Thank you venus. At least one of my people still dey. |
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