OPINION: Serena Williams serves as inspiration for young femme tennis players of color

PHOTO: Serena Williams has long been an inspiration for tennis players in the minority.

By Stella Maze,

BlueDevilHUB.com staff,

In the largely white sport of tennis with only about 30% of professional tennis players identifying as non-white, it can be hard for people of color to thrive in an industry constantly trying to tear them down.

Serena Williams, 23 time singles title winner, has paved the way for many young tennis players of color to feel validated in this space.

UC Davis women’s tennis player Olive Maunupau, sees Williams as an inspiration. Maunupau grew up practicing on public tennis courts in San Francisco with her sister, and was taught by her dad, similar to Williams. This contrasted with most of her competitors who played at private clubs and had paid coaches.

It isn’t a secret that Black women are constantly disrespected, dehumanized and gaslit at any outward show of emotion. Williams is a quintessential example of this.

A 2018 racist caricature was published in the Herald Sun mocking her valid reaction to a bad call by the umpire is a perfect example of the way she has been harshly harassed for showing emotion on the court.

Because Williams is Black AND a woman, there is intersectionality in her discrimination as she is not only opressed as a Black person but is also expected to act a certain way as a woman. As a result of Williams going against stereotyping, there has been mass outrage towards an oppressed figure showing superiority and/or success.

“Instead of appreciating Serena for who she is, people see her as a threat to their world as they know it,” said Sara Jackson, assistant UC Davis women’s tennis coach.

Maunupau said that witnessing the public reaction to Williams’ emotion stuck with her and helped her start feeling comfortable with being outspoken on the court.

There have always been male pros who have been labeled with the titles of “outspoken” and “vocal” after yelling four letter words into the stands: Ilie Nastase, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors to name a few.

Maunupau brought up the male tennis athlete Nick Kyrios.

Kyrios is an Australian player who in the 2022 Open smashed his racket into the ground after losing in the quarter final. So far, there have been no angry men calling him an animalistic force or commenting on his consistently cantankerous attitude.

“When a woman is outspoken, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it,” former tennis great Billie Jean King tweeted after the 2018 US Open.

“When a man does the same, he is ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” King added.

The tweet was in response to the incredible defamation campaign that Williams was faced with after her valid reaction at the 2018 US Open.

“[The] higher standard created by the media and the tennis world towards Serena has forced her to endure more criticism than perhaps any other professional tennis player throughout her time on tour,” Jackson said.

Jackson, who played on the UCD tennis team herself, has been coaching for 18 years at UCD and now is married with three Black children growing up in the world now.

For her, Williams’ impact has been priceless as she raises her daughters.

“I will always be grateful for how she advanced the sport I love and helped to break barriers that my daughters will benefit from,” Jackson said.