Serena Needs to be Banned

William’s has a long list of indiscretions when it comes to verbal abuse of umpires, and she, and anyone else, man or woman, who treats umpires this way need to be hit where it hurts. Fines just serve as a drop in the ocean for players. The behaviour demonstrated by Williams is not acceptable at work, on the street, or in a tennis match, and it’s a blemish on society that we have somehow come to accept this. Tennis needs to set an example, and show that this kind of behaviour has no place on a tennis court.

Chair umpire, Carlos Ramos deserves great praise for not being intimidated by Williams and the New York crowd, and implemented the laws of tennis admirably. There can be no debate about this, as William’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou admitted to coaching. Serena may not have seen his gestures, and everyone may do it, but Serena’s team broke the laws of tennis, and were punished accordingly. What transpired thereafter was simply an impetuous child throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way. It is an insult to people that truly suffer sexism, or difficulties coming back to work after becoming a mother that Williams can try and use those issues as an excuse to hide from her actions. Serena Williams is not out there for mothers, or women, she’s out there for Serena Williams, and when her backs against the wall, she uses any method possible to turn the situation around.

That former pros and commentators continue to pander to Serena’s every whim just adds to the stain on the women’s game. These people are so obsessed with pushing their political agenda through tennis that they’re willing to overlook the obvious transgressions of their number one star. Chris Evert’s comments sum up the complete ignorance that Serena’s excusers portray, ‘because of the big occasion - finals, the score, a game penalty - he should have warned her.” This is completely the wrong way round, the biggest occasions should be where you set the right example. If the code violation and point penalty weren’t warning enough, then what is?

Williams said after the game, “this is just an example for the next person that has emotions, that wants to express themselves and wants to be a strong woman. They’re going to be allowed to do that because of today. Maybe it didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.”

Unfortunately, the next woman, who had legitimately earned the opportunity to express herself was Naomi Osaka. Where most people are allowed to revel in the moment of their first Grand Slam victory, Osaka was completely overshadowed by the behaviour of an angry, bitter, “strong woman,” who took the opportunity to express her most ugly side.

No matter what happens, everything has to be about Serena Williams.