"Serena and Venus would do well to look in Roger Federer's mirror"

It is tremendously sad for me to see what has happened in the last few weeks regarding Serena Williams and her sister Venus. A series of events, with some “ugly” moments directed at the journalists covering tennis information, at the fans following her, and consequently, at the sport that brings us together here: tennis. With this US Open, another chapter.

Everything truly exploded at the past Wimbledon tournament. Serena received a wildcard to play singles after several years of retirement. We all gathered around the television to see her compete again, but putting aside what we witnessed during the match, losing to Maya Joint, the 44-year-old American gave the girl a cold, distant handshake that felt completely out of place for what a return to the courts means for a legend like her.

Then, we encountered Serena's refusal to talk to the press. No one understood what was happening. The London tournament justified what occurred by citing the American's poor physical condition, as she ended up with knee pain. In subsequent images, we saw Serena with a swollen knee and the doctor extracting fluid from the joint.

That defeat and seeing that her body no longer supported her on this return to the courts made Serena realize that she was not fit for singles. Her plan was to play in New York, but she didn't want to be overshadowed by other girls or bear the physical toll that competing at that age entails. However, her desire was to be able to play doubles alongside her sister Venus. Wish granted by the tournaments in Cincinnati and the US Open. Here comes the mess.

Serena and Venus refuse to talk to the press

Not to forget that Venus has received 15 consecutive wildcards, with 15 consecutive losses, something that has caused quite a stir in the circuit by claiming that those invitations could go to someone who truly needs them and can utilize them better than she can, the disdain that Serena and Venus are showing towards this sport is not what someone receiving an invitation should typically display.

Basically, it’s a “you give us the invitations, so we feel part of all this, feeling like a tennis player again”, but on the condition that “don’t put a microphone in front of me because I don’t want to talk to you or say anything to the people”. Thus, neither those of us who cover tennis information nor the fans following them will know what they feel or think.

Allow me to say one thing, and that is this is not being an ambassador for this sport. Quite the opposite.

My utmost respect for someone like Roger Federer, who not only accepts the invitation to a tournament like Wimbledon or the US Open but also goes to watch all the matches, stays until the last minute, even when the rest have already left, to hold a press conference of over 45 minutes so that the people who miss him so much can know about him.

That is class. That is respect for the sport that has given you everything. That is a way to return the gratitude and love you received and continue to receive. That is being a legend. That is being an ambassador for this sport. What Serena and Venus do is pass through the circuit like “Hollywood stars”, choosing what they want and what they don’t.

And if you choose to accept an invitation and occupy the place of someone else, the least you can do is show appreciation and respect for what it means to be a tennis player. Towards journalists, the tournament, your rivals, and your fans. They would do well to look in the mirror of someone like Federer for this sport. In the end, one can see that class and respect are not given by titles. That’s for sure.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Serena y Venus harían bien en mirarse en el espejo de Roger Federer"