Serena to play Indian Wells again

[GameSetAndMath]

According to a report in tennis.com, Serena has signed up to play in Indian Wells this
year. As all of us know both she and venus have boycotted the tournament since 2001
when the crowd booed at them (due to venus withdrawing from the sf match against
serena) and several different interpretations of it.

Venus is not scheduled to play there this year also.

No reason is mentioned for change of mind.

All speculations welcome, but let us try to keep the discussion clean while
being open.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I read that article from TW.Com and I must say I was surprised with the news.Lets see how this story will unfold though.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Once, Serena and Venus are to face off each other in a tournament (can't
remember which one). I think Serena moved to that match by defeating
Elena Dementieva. The interviewer asked for Elena's opinion on who will
win the match between Serena and Venus.

Her answer: "How can I say? It is a family decision".

You would tend to think a fellow professional tennis player would know better
to make this kind of remark.

 

[Si Si Simona]

The interviewer asked for Elena's opinion on who will
win the match between Serena and Venus.

Her answer: "How can I say? It is a family decision".

You would tend to think a fellow professional tennis player would know better
to make this kind of remark.

Exactly. Players in 2014 are careful of not making such silly remarks. There is much more respect between players these days. It reminds me why I didn't like Elena much even when she was in best form.

It also reminds me of another tennis forum where a weirdo Elena fan rules with iron fist his psychiatric kingdom (his forum and his website). lol

I hope the courts are a bit slower there than in Melbourne so that Simona wont be kicked out of the court with hard hitting. She can challenge anyone on slower courts!
Such opinion as above would get me in trouble on that silly forum that I mentioned above. Not here I believe.
Its a pity that this forum (tennisfrontier) does not get much more traffic and users to replace other stupid and twisted women tennis forums on the net. Sheep (mob) mentality...
Tennisfrontier is the best women tennis forum on the net by far. The admins here are doing a great job in keeping it nice, clean, and civilized.
Lets hope more users will join in here.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Regarding Indian Wells Saga, I also think the Williams Sisters got away without much
repercussions for skipping it. Of course, before it was a mandatory tournament, it was ok
to skip it. But, they continued to skip it even after it became a mandatory tournament
as per the WTA rules.

My question to those who follow the WTA ranking points and penalty system more
closely is this: What exactly is the punishment given to Williams Sisters for skipping
Indian wells.

I know, they get 0 points for that tournament. But, that cannot be considered
punishment.

To put it bluntly, Did the WTA not go after them as they are big name players?

 

[RJD11]

Regarding Indian Wells Saga, I also think the Williams Sisters got away without much
repercussions for skipping it. Of course, before it was a mandatory tournament, it was ok
to skip it. But, they continued to skip it even after it became a mandatory tournament
as per the WTA rules.

My question to those who follow the WTA ranking points and penalty system more
closely is this: What exactly is the punishment given to Williams Sisters for skipping
Indian wells.

I know, they get 0 points for that tournament. But, that cannot be considered
punishment.

To put it bluntly, Did the WTA not go after them as they are big name players?

They got more punishment than the 0 point thing

Stacys predecessor added the Williams clause to the rule.

It said that those who missed a premier event was barred

from playing the next event. This was clearly aimed at the

Sisters, trying to force them to play IW or they couldn't play

their home tourny at Miami. The other players all played both

events anyway. Richard said if they tried to enforce that rule

it would be decided in court. I guess the downside of a very

public court battle didn't appeal to the WTA. They proposed

that the girls could do promotional stuff for the event within

25 miles instead. I guess this was too close to IW and Serena

said she would do it but she didn't think they would like what

she had to say about IW. So it was changed to 100 miles and

just promoting Tennis.

However if more punishment is what you want, Serena and Venus

lost well over a half a million dollars as they didn't recieve their share

of the player pool for missing IW.


ps....I have yet to see a promotional vid by the sisters during IW

 

[Front242]

Though she only lost one round prior to last year at the AO I imagine she had hoped to do better than last year's quarters loss at the AO and scored very little points there as a result. Knowing she's a favourite to win any tournament and the potential of a 1000 points that'd be my thoughts behind why she'd choose to play. She wants to cushion her points lead and stay number 1 as long as possible. She hasn't played since 2001 unlike the other ladies so they're all free points.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Though she only lost one round prior to last year at the AO I imagine she had hoped to do better than last year's quarters loss at the AO and scored very little points there as a result. Knowing she's a favourite to win any tournament and the potential of a 1000 points that'd be my thoughts behind why she'd choose to play. She wants to cushion her points lead and stay number 1 as long as possible. She hasn't played since 2001 unlike the other ladies so they're all free points.

Are you missing the history here? I don't think a 1000 ranking points is a big deal
for them over a principle (real or perceived) behind their boycott.

So, it sounds really strange.

Is it possible that Larry Elison offered her 10 million dollars appearance fee?
IW is the richest non-grand slam tournament out there and Larry Elison is the
owner of ORACLE who bought IW couple of years ago.

Now, you may ask how much money is worth trading your principles. I don't know.
I guess, it depends on how much you have and how much you want.

My favorite proverb about principles is the following.

"These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others" by Groucho Marx.

 

[tented]

Personally, I think it's high time the Williams sisters stop boycotting IW. The tournament has changed hands a few times (different organizers, different owner, etc.). The people involved with it in 2001 are gone. To continue boycotting it is to do to it what they don't want done to them: people not changing.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Personally, I think it's high time the Williams sisters stop boycotting IW. The tournament has changed hands a few times (different organizers, different owner, etc.). The people involved with it in 2001 are gone. To continue boycotting it is to do to it what they don't want done to them: people not changing.

Yes, I do agree with you. It has not got much to do with organizers, owners etc.
The issue has got to do with fans. But, based on the actions of few fans on one day,
the Williams Sisters characterized the whole collection of fans in that area to be of
certain type. That is also stereotyping. For all you know, just the next day, the
crowd might have in a totally different way.

Apparently, Serena (or is it Venus) discusses the IW issue in more detail in a book
that they have written (and which I have not read). From what I remember hearing,
I think they are willing to forgive IW now.

 

[Goldenboy]

tented, Serena mentioned once that what annoyed her was the fans (predominantly old, white and male) booing her in the final and cheering wildly against her. They did also boo her father.

I think her stand is more against the fans, because as you say the owners have changed.

I too hope she plays. The organizers didn't handle Venus's retirement well the last time, and the fans may have misunderstood and acted a little unfairly. It's been 13 years, and all parties should move on.

Hopefully the crowd will give Serena a nice warm reception this year. And Venus too, if she chooses to play.

 

[tented]

tented, Serena mentioned once that what annoyed her was the fans (predominantly old, white and male) booing her in the final and cheering wildly against her. They did also boo her father.

I think her stand is more against the fans, because as you say the owners have changed.

Even if it's just the fans, GSM makes an excellent point above:

"The issue has got to do with fans. But, based on the actions of few fans on one day,
the Williams Sisters characterized the whole collection of fans in that area to be of
certain type. That is also stereotyping. For all you know, just the next day, the
crowd might have in a totally different way."

 

[special700]

Serena did not sign up for anything. They took a couple of sentences from an interview and ran with it. Do you really think that Serena is going to drop playing in Miami a place where she is welcomed and go and play in a place where almost the entire crowd was racist towards her. Read Serena's interview from the OA and tell me if you can deduce from that that she will be playing at IW. They are so thirsty for tennis news and selling tickets for IW that they would say anything relating to Serena and IW. Unbelieveable..... Until you hear it directly from Serena or her manager then you will know that Serena is not playing IW.

 

[special700]

Though she only lost one round prior to last year at the AO I imagine she had hoped to do better than last year's quarters loss at the AO and scored very little points there as a result. Knowing she's a favourite to win any tournament and the potential of a 1000 points that'd be my thoughts behind why she'd choose to play. She wants to cushion her points lead and stay number 1 as long as possible. She hasn't played since 2001 unlike the other ladies so they're all free points.

Serena does not chase points. Again, Serena did not choose to play IW, because she never said she was playing IW. Let me know if you see any articles where Serena quoted she will be playing that racist tournament.

 

[special700]

Personally, I think it's high time the Williams sisters stop boycotting IW. The tournament has changed hands a few times (different organizers, different owner, etc.). The people involved with it in 2001 are gone. To continue boycotting it is to do to it what they don't want done to them: people not changing.

That's the operative word.

 

[tented]

Personally, I think it's high time the Williams sisters stop boycotting IW. The tournament has changed hands a few times (different organizers, different owner, etc.). The people involved with it in 2001 are gone. To continue boycotting it is to do to it what they don't want done to them: people not changing.

That's the operative word.

Uh ... yeah, that's why I used it, however clearly I'm not alone.

 

[tented]

Though she only lost one round prior to last year at the AO I imagine she had hoped to do better than last year's quarters loss at the AO and scored very little points there as a result. Knowing she's a favourite to win any tournament and the potential of a 1000 points that'd be my thoughts behind why she'd choose to play. She wants to cushion her points lead and stay number 1 as long as possible. She hasn't played since 2001 unlike the other ladies so they're all free points.

Serena does not chase points. Again, Serena did not choose to play IW, because she never said she was playing IW. Let me know if you see any articles where Serena quoted she will be playing that racist tournament.

That is so over-the-top. This isn't 1950's Alabama; it's southern California in the 21st century. There is NO WAY there would be any racist outbursts there.

The Williams sisters have taken a single, isolated incident and blown it way out of proportion for over a decade. Move on ...

 

[Fiero425]

Once, Serena and Venus are to face off each other in a tournament (can't
remember which one). I think Serena moved to that match by defeating
Elena Dementieva. The interviewer asked for Elena's opinion on who will
win the match between Serena and Venus.

Her answer: "How can I say? It is a family decision".

You would tend to think a fellow professional tennis player would know better
to make this kind of remark.

I definitely felt that way; esp. before 2003! Richard said Serena would be more successful, but early on it appeared Venus was "allowed" to win or take matches; defaults, lackluster play by Serena! After 2002, it appeared Serena gave no quarter and annihilated her older sister at will! Some might call it silly, but I think it was an accurate assumption by other leading players! They were just too gutless to say it out loud! Besides an appearance fee, I think she's hitting IW to recover points lost by going down in flames at AO! She may not need it, but she wants to pad that career win total! She'll never come close to Martina (167), Chris (157), or Steffi's (107), but she wants to at least get close! She's gotten herself up to #4, but she waited to late to get serious, so Graf's numbers are safe!

 

[Si Si Simona]

...so Graf's numbers are safe!

Probably true, but Serena is still my best of all times when it comes to level of play.

 

[Fiero425]

...so Graf's numbers are safe!

Probably true, but Serena is still my best of all times when it comes to level of play.

That's cool! At least you didn't lose it like some people! I truly appreciate that! :clap