Tears and tantrums filled our eyes and ears from the highly bizarre behavior of Serena Williams, which capped off the 2018 U.S. Open Women’s final.
So many of us came into the match, preparing our minds and hearts for what we hoped would be yet another inspired moment for Serena Williams – arguably the greatest women’s tennis player in history.
There was just one thing that got in the way – Serena herself.
Much of the spillover from her toxic rant has led to a subsequent emotional roller coaster of fiery online exchanges, accusations of sexism, and anger-baiting media coverage.
Let’s give ourselves permission to break away from our emotionally charged opinions and start with the facts. It’s important to remind ourselves that facts don’t care about our feelings.
Fact 1 is that Patrick Mouratoglou coached Serena Williams from the stands. He clearly admitted to such in a direct interview with ESPN.
Fact 2 is that coaching from the stands during a match is an action that when cited, results in a warning or penalty given to the player. Whether the player sees the coaching or interacts back with the coach is of no consequence.
Mouratoglou stated that everyone coaches (or is coached) during a match. This may well be true, but it doesn’t create an allowance for making it okay. Most drivers break the speed limit at some point in their lives – and if caught, they can’t excuse it by citing speeding as a common behavior of many drivers.
When Serena chose to enter into a verbal exchange with umpire Carlos Ramos, she took action, whether consciously or unconsciously to shift the narrative away from the action of her coach and onto herself as a woman protecting her honor.
Let’s focus on the carefully bouncing ball here.
“I don’t cheat…I didn’t get coaching” were the words from Serena. She framed the exchange around the presumption that the umpire was accusing, blaming and disrespecting what she and her game stood for.
Remember that whether she knew it or not, she did get coaching – and Ramos saw it. Instead, she chose to play the role of victim and create a perspective that the umpire was an aggressor.
Serena knew a majority of people in the stands were ‘for her’. A built-in support system that could be, and I would argue was emotionally manipulated. She would also add that she was standing up for the rights of women…and setting an example for her daughter.
Though a terrific champion and inspiration to so many, it was clearly Serena who stepped out of bounds when she blamed, shamed, and name-called the umpire. She attacked HIS lack of honesty and integrity – [see definitions of the words “liar” and “thief”].
By actually doing to him what she accused him of doing to her, wasn’t he entitled to an apology?
Why does he deserve less?
Serena made another key mistake of engagement by speaking too much and listening too little. This led to a second faulty presumption that the umpire had reversed his given warning for coaching – which he had not.
I actually do see Serena as a victim – but only from a clear failure to control her own poor behavior. She failed to use emotional intelligence to better control her escalating disrespect, finger pointing, blaming, shaming, and name-calling.
Remember – the umpire did not take a game away from her for the coaching – this was just a warning. She subsequently smashed her racket and then verbally assaulted the umpire. Her own actions, like a runaway train of rage, ultimately became her undoing.
Such actions often lead to poor habits and patterns of engagement. We have seen this from Serena and other athletes over and over…as well as with those we are connected to in our home, work, community, and online environments.
Welcome to our next major societal challenge — combating toxic incivility. Most especially during stressful times or when we have differences of opinion.
As for Ramos, he’s been known to be selective on his calls. From Djokovic and Nadal to Andy Murray and Venus Williams. Ramos also is one of the game’s highly regarded umpires, having called matches at all the Grand Slams in his 27-year career.
If sexism truly exists within the officiating of the USTA, then it should be fully validated and dealt with appropriately. I only ask that the analysis for its proof or disproof not be undertaken in a way to selectively fit any type of cognitive bias, by either side to this accusation.
Serena gained big respect from me for employing genuine empathy during the trophy ceremony. The next time she finds herself faced with a triggering event, I hope to see her ‘Walking The Ridge‘ (employing more civility).
Calculated restraint, better control of emotions, and improved awareness of the situation will better serve her in the future. It will also be an inspiration to millions of her followers that we need to recognize each engagement and conversation, not necessarily to agree to compromise our views, but as an opportunity to listen, learn, and grow.
We can and should have differences of opinion, but they should be catalysts toward fostering and improving a move inclusive and civil society.
Recent Comments