The Venus vs. Serena Matches Rigged?

I listened to the press conference on Radio Wimbledon. Venus was truly insulted by the comment. She went from being playful and almost coy in her responses (her high, Michael Jackson voice) to pretty stern and assertive. She made sure the reporter knew she wasn't mad at him for asking, but she made it clear she wanted to squash the rumor.

Venus was also asked whether she feels sorry for Serena when they're playing and Venus is "creaming" her (creaming was the reporter's term) and Venus responded: "No."

Sounds like somebody is just a sore loser...

That's what I'm saying

Napoleon Dynamite should keep her trap shut and work on her game.

Venus and Serena have just booked a place in the women's doubles final. Looks like they'll play Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur in the final.

She commented on what the FINALS WILL LOOK LIKE! Read and comprehend!

Some context for you, hardyandtiny, Elena Dementieva has made unfortunate and unnecessary wisecracks before - accused Linsday Davenport of faking an injury, said Maria Sharapova wasn't Russian enough, and has explicitly stated before that Venus and Serena's matches are fixed.

The comment about Sharapova was stupid but silly, petty stuff like that is, ...eh. But to call out the professionalism of other players, that's another thing altogether, and she's lucky the WTA hasn't intervened. Luckily, Davenport and the Family Williams aren't the suing types.

Dementieva admits what everyone else already knows. Thank god she brought it out. Serena hasnt lost to Venus since 2001 - but today she magically loses? Watch the tape and you see Serena dumping point after point. Trust me, Venus is writing a check right now. It's all about winning 5 for Venus - as she can't win anywhere else.

You're wrong on several counts. Venus beat Serena twice in 2005, and had match points against Serena this year at Bangalore. Last year when they were trying to come back from injuries, several insiders - including television commentators - reported that Venus was dominating Serena in practice sessions. In match play, Venus does often lack a "killer instinct" against Serena, however.

What everybody else already knows is that Dementieva has been a sore loser in the past and has shot her mouth off about other players before. And as for Venus not being able to win anywhere else, she was begged to play several events at the end of last year, in addition to carrying the Fed Cup team, and she's been exhausted ever since.

Have some facts before you hate.

I agree with you there. I thought it was obvious that Serena dumped the match, and feigned her emotions.
I think another consideration was that they wanted it to be a two-set match, so that they would be fresh for the doubles final.

I disagree. And just a reminder, Serena Williams does often lose matches. Even matches we all think she's going to win. For example, from earlier this year, look at the German Open (lost to Safina), the French Open (lost to Srebotnik), and even Miami, where Serena did win but really could have and should have closed out Jankovic in two sets.

I believe Serena's mom hit the nail on the head afterward:

"Serena thinks everything is supposed to go her way, that's the bottom line," said her mother, Oracene Price, who sat in the players' guest box for both matches. "She thinks that's the way it's supposed to go in life. But this is life.

"She's going to have to learn how to suck things up," Price added. "Say, 'OK, I'm not going to win everything. I just got to be, this is going to make me a better person, this will build character for myself and I have to learn how to lose."'

The talking heads and tennis punditry have largely agreed. And to Mom's point, Serena actually was sulky after the loss (I've posted about this on another thread). Some additional quotes:


QUESTION: What exactly happened on that let call, from your perspective?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know.

QUESTION: Did the ball land in or out? Do you know?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know.

QUESTION: You don't look happy at all.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't? I wonder why.

Stop hating - Venus has 8 count them 8 grand slam titles. That doesn't sound like a person that can't win anywhere else. I just feel sorry for the women's tennis world, cause just when everyone was counting the sisters out and saying their careers were over - they came storming back at Wimbledon and whipped up on everybody. They didn't lose a set, until Serena lost to Venus. They showed the world that when they focus on tennis they cannot be beat.

She definitely gets disappointed when she loses and this time it clearly hurt a lot and wasn't planned, Jeez. Good thing they won doubles!

To tell the truth, that is why I think that Venus has lost to her in the past, because she feels sorry for her baby sister. But I think this time Venus said hey your are 26 year old grown woman and not a baby anymore. She even toned down her celebration for her.

I agree definitely fixed. As an ex-player myself you could tell Serena was throwing the match. Coming to the net with fat shots right in front of Venus and then looking like she was shocked when it was punished.... c'mon, they should stick to playing tennis and leave the acting up to the professionals.

When Venus loses to Serena I might say Venus threw the match. But Serena is not giving anything up to anybody, she just got out played by her big sister, who I my opinion is a better player. 127 mile/hr serve.
What?

Serving isn't just about speed. Serena has placement and power combined....and most importantly a hunger to win that makes her sister look like she is out there playing for $10.

It really doesn't matter who is the better player though, the match was fixed, it makes any decent player cringe to watch such incredibly bad sportsmanship.

Let's hope we don't see it again. Wimbledon deserves better.

really?!

So just because your an ex-player you know that it was fixed?!

Are you an ex-wimbledon player as well??

And give Venus credit, i do believe she beat some pretty good women on her way to the final..and she has been exceptionally good at wimbledon, so why is it such a suprise that she won?

I believe explayer, though reluctantly. I know many ex-players on the pro-level - fixing matches, especially when 2 ppl know each other, is as commonplace as drinking gatorade. I had a good friend in college who would routinely lose in the finals of tournaments because he wouldn't get paid (as an amateur) if he won, so he split the winnings with the person he let win. Amazingly, he won these tournaments when he was a pro.

This doesn't mean Serena and Venus rigged the match, but understand that it isn't as taboo and unlikely as you may thing it is. I think it is wrong to accuse people of cheating without sufficient proof, but I can probably vouch that explayer has seen his share of this so he has to be entitled to his opinion.

Fair enough, good point..

Elite and marquee players have substantial disincentives to engage in match-fixing, which is what explayer is accusing here. Players have been fined for tanking matches, and as recently as what, last year?, Daveydenko was fined for not putting forth his best effort. Match fixing can get players in huge trouble: fines, probably having to pay back prize money, loss of rankings points earned, and suspension from the tour.

Serena has been flat for the past two seasons, so it's not entirely shocking she would lose. Much has been written in the blogosphere about how similar 2007 and 2008 have been to other years where Serena's results have dipped.

Also, more so than any other player, Venus would know Serena's current weaknesses, or even just her current tendencies. Years ago, Serena has admitted to using information about her sister's conditioning and health against her in matches.

Further, there was a huge incentive for Serena to win: Serena is arrogant enough to care about her place in history, so the title would have not only put distance between her and Venus, but also moved her up the list of champions with the most Grand Slam titles. Yeah, I do think Serena cares about this stuff.

So, I still disagree and would appreciate having my opinion respected, too. Personally, I'd prefer Venus and Serena to not have to play each other anymore, because it's really, really sh!++y to have one's accomplishments called into question like this.

Been2 - I agree completely w/ your point of view, I'm just saying that explayer has his reasons and they aren't to totally invalid, though it doesn't change the fact that accusing anyone of cheating without real proof is an absolute insult to their effort and accomplishments.