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Serena Says Blue Clay Complainers Are Wimps
4 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Madrid winner Serena Williams was not impressed by all the complaining about the new blue clay surface by some of the leading figures of the ATP, namely Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic last week.
Like Roger Federer, Serena opted to adapt to the blue clay conditions, not whine about it.
“We ladies don’t complain we just do our best. On the WTA (Tour) we are real performers, we are not about going out there and being weenies,” Serena stated at her press conference after defeating WTA #1 ranked Victoria Azarenka in the Madrid final.
Serena took another light-hearted swipe at her outspoken male counterparts who heavily criticized tournament founder Ion Tiriac’s controversial new blue surface at his always innovative tournament.
“Women are way tougher than men. That’s why we have the babies, you guys could never handle kids,” smiled Serena.
Could it be that the WTA players are just wee bit tougher than the men? I mean, you rarely see WTA players calling for towel wipes after almost every point like many of the men players do. You don’t see female players burst into tears after winning and losing slam finals. And tennis did not gain a reputation in the old days as being a sport for “wimps” because of Mo Connelly, Billie Jean King, Suzanne Lenglen or Chris Evert.
Maybe the ATP players need to toughen up their images, as Serena seems to be pointing out here.
Dan Markowitz · May 15, 2012 at 6:50 pm
The men are bigger prima donnas, but in the men’s game, footwork is a bigger and higher priority. I mean, Bobby Riggs at 57 beat the No. 2 women’s player of the time, Margaret Court, in a exo match. And Riggs used to play with an umbrella in one hand (not against Court I don’t think). Women’s tennis is like women’s basketball compared to the male game. The athleticism is so different.
Steve · May 15, 2012 at 10:51 pm
It seems the new generation of players are only used to the diff. surfaces playing alike. Everything seems standardized. Soon they’ll have a standard ball too. Any little change and they freak. Fed has been around long enough to know how to adapt. He probably remembers what fast Wimbledon grass used to be like.
Steve · May 15, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Love Nadal but someone must mess up his water bottles, re-arrange them during change over.
Scoop Malinowski · May 16, 2012 at 11:35 am
Some former ATP players comment on the situation:
Johan Kriek: Ion Tiriac is a very wealthy tennis entrepeneur…I like that kinda person. He thinks “outside” of the box! So here he comes and tries something new with “blue clay courts”…believe me the ATP will NEVER let something like that happen without knowing it being good for the game…now Djoker and Rafa lost and all we hear is how bad it was and how Djoker will never show up again if it is blue clay…what a crybaby!….get over it!! I wonder why Roger won the tournament? Did he play with “spikes” on his soles…he seemed to have done ok!! Well done Roger by the way!!
Listen up prima donas! You guys are making a lot of money. You are NOT in touch with what is happening in the world economies! Spain where Madrid is in, is in huge financial crisis! part of the PIGS ( Portugal, Italy , Greece and Spain) So thank your lucky stars that there are still huge prize money tournaments around to play in, with people like Tiriac risking stuff to make it exciting!! stop the whining….and play!
Jan Michael Gambill: I totally agree. The blue clay is fun and unique. There is plenty of red. Get over it. It’s not like Roland Garros went blue.
Lan Bale: Maybe they should just do away with clay so everyone could have good footing.