The Venus vs. Serena Matches Rigged?
After Elena Dementieva was ushered outta Wimby by Venus, she commented on what the Finals will look like. "It's really hard," she said. "For sure it's going to be a family decision. They know their game very well. So maybe there is not so much fight in the end." Made it sound like dad, Richard, just flips a coin to see who should win the match when the Williams sisters go head-to-head, or that maybe they just take turns winning. Venus' response: "I'm extremely professional in everything that I do on and off the court. I contribute my best in my sport and I also have a ton of respect for myself and my family. So any mention of that is extremely disrespectful for who I am, what I stand for, and my family." No matter what Dementieva meant by her comment, and whether or not her English is just struggling, it'll be another duel for the ages. When asked a few days ago what she thought of the fact that her sister is favored between the two of them, Serena replied, "I don't know why anyone would say that when I'm still in the draw, what are you ON!?"
Reply to this discussion
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers
Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?
Join the Yardbarker Network (YBN) for more promotion, traffic, and money.





















BeenTo2SUs said July 03, 2008
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."
icecold33 said July 03, 2008
SmoovArt
replied July 03, 2008
SnitchinBubs
said July 03, 2008
BeenTo2SUs said July 04, 2008
hardyandtiny said July 05, 2008
BeenTo2SUs replied July 05, 2008
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.
lockievonder said July 05, 2008
BeenTo2SUs replied July 05, 2008
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.
sanam_pao replied July 06, 2008
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.
BeenTo2SUs replied July 06, 2008
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.
Tilly714 replied July 06, 2008
CuuuuuJooooo said July 06, 2008
Tilly714 replied July 06, 2008
explayer said July 06, 2008
Tilly714 said July 06, 2008
What?
explayer said July 09, 2008
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.
icecold33 replied July 09, 2008
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?
SnitchinBubs
replied July 10, 2008
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.
icecold33 replied July 10, 2008
BeenTo2SUs said July 10, 2008
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.
SnitchinBubs
replied July 10, 2008