Serena Williams has done more for tennis than nearly anyone should be expected to do. She grew the sport, especially in terms of minorities wanting to be involved. Tennis is the best sport on Earth, of course, but it can be expensive. Williams showed that a person can reach high-end success without having millionaire parents.
But no player should see themselves as bigger than the sport. Novak Djokovic, for instance, is tied for the most Grand Slams by any player (24), but he often speaks about how he doesn't know where he would be without the sport. What he rarely does is skip out on required post-match press conferences. That is something Williams did after her doubles loss at this year's US Open.
Madison Keys would have had every right to pull a Serena and not do press after she lost to Zheng Qinwen in the third round. The American led 5-0 in the third set before losing the final seven games. The comeback was brutal emotionally for Keys.
Serena Williams owes tennis fans an apology after skipping the media session at the US Open
Speaking with the media, Keys said, "Um, yeah, I mean, I feel like I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then… I just… got really… I mean, not really scared, but, like, I couldn’t swing. I don’t know. Tennis just feels really hard right now... Yeah, it just… sometimes it’s easier than others, and this week is obviously one of the harder ones, just because you care so much, and… Yeah, I’m gonna have to make some sort of changes."
The way Keys lost and the way Williams lost were different, and a big reason was that Williams didn't lose alone. But what cannot go without mention is that Williams was seemingly not planning on doing press anyway. As soon as her match was done, she left the stadium and got into a car while her doubles partner and sister, Venus, was left to change in the locker room.
Taylor Fritz also lost too early at the US Open after leading by two sets. He still did his required post-match press. Neither Fritz nor Keys is ever going to be remembered for having as much tennis success as Serena Williams, but they are increasingly being seen as more professional and accountable than the WTA icon.
Anyone can win and speak to the media; it takes far more guts to talk about a tough loss immediately after a match. Fans want to hear about the emotions involved and what the player was thinking. Tennis doesn't exist as a professional sport without those who buy merchandise and tickets to watch the players. A player seeing themselves as above that is wrong.
Whether Serena Williams was thinking about that after her doubles loss at the US Open and after her singles loss at Wimbledon to Maya Joint earlier in the summer is unknown, but to fans, Williams just looks like a sore loser who can't be forced to speak about the match with fans. Tennis certainly lets her get away with skipping the media session; she wasn't fined for doing so at the US Open.
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