The Williams Sister’s Boycott of Indian Wells: Year 9
At the Indian Wells Masters Series Tennis Tournament in 2001, Venus Williams pulled out of a semifinal match against her sister Serena Williams just 4 minutes before the match was scheduled to get underway. The enthusiastic crowd, assembled and anxious to see the dynamic duo take the court, were upset and booed the sisters.
The match was to be televised, carried nationally by ESPN2. When Venus and her father, Richard Williams, entered the stadium the next day to watch Serena in the final against Kim Clijsters, they were booed, as was Serena all during her match.
Even as Serena held the championship trophy aloft, the crowd voiced their displeasure with the Williams sisters, feeling that Venus’ withdrawal was a contrived way out of a difficult match for the close-knit family. The crowd felt deceived and let down. They let everyone know the extent of their displeasure.
To view the subsequent crowd reaction click here.
Was the crowd wrong? Yes. Players retire due to injury all the time. To accuse Venus of this action was unjust. At the time the Williams sisters were a rarity in the world of professional tennis. They were both top-notch exciting tennis players capable of beating anyone else on tour.
Venus accepts the runner up trophy while Serena wins the Wimbledon Championship Trophy in 2003
But their matches against each other often lacked the fire of their matches against other professionals. Venus seemed far too tender and she rarely defeated Serena in the big finals, except at Wimbledon. In those days there were often subtle comments made in certain media quarters, hinting that the outcome of their matches was pre-ordained.
It was, of course, all stuff and nonsense with no foundation. It is not even logical that the sisters would engage in such subterfuge because there was no compelling reason to do so. Sisters compete. From the day they are born until the day they die, sisters vie for attention and the top spot. It is human nature. Most siblings are life-long competitors.
But the sisters egged on by their father decided to punish the Indian Wells fans and the tennis world for booing them. Calling the taunts against them as racially based, the sisters vowed never again to return to the California desert to compete in the Masters Series Tournament at Indian Wells.
And, they never have.
Since 2001, the sisters have not stepped foot on the grounds at Indian Wells saying they were subjected to racial slurs. That, of course, may be true. The reason, however, for the crowds displeasure –– the reason for the boos –– was not based on race. The assembled fans were upset by the last-minute withdrawal from a much-anticipated match between the two sisters.
There are idiots everywhere in the world. Some of them may have been at Indian Wells and may very well have said some unkind, stupid things to the sisters based on their race…just as they probably do to Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant in the heat of the moment during an NBA contest.
No professional athlete is insulated from prejudice when his or her very presence on the floor or on the field may signal defeat for some fan’s beloved team or individual sport star. Think Tiger Woods.
There are no laws against being a loud-mouthed boor, unfortunately.
But the sisters have veered too far in the other direction to justify their on-going reaction to being booed. To continue to boycott this major tournament for the actions of a handful of rowdy fans almost a decade ago seems excessive and self-indulgent.
Rather than play at Indian Wells, Serena and Venus will do promotional activities in 2010.
A year or two, maybe. But this has gone on far too long –– to the point of backlashing against the Williams sisters. It seems petulant and childish at this point –– like they are sticking out their tongues at the WTA and the tennis promoters at Indian Wells and saying they can do whatever they want and the tennis hierarchy is powerless to stop them.
Really. It is the truth. The WTA is impotent against the star power of the Williams sisters.
In an effort to rein them in, the WTA initiated a rule for mandatory attendance at certain tournaments including this event, then backed off and said essentially, “Well if you do not participate at Indian Wells, then you must do some “promotional activities” in the area of the forsaken tournament.”
Please! What kind of punishment is that? It is not even a good slap on the wrist.
Why pass rules that you will not enforce? The sad truth is that the WTA does enforce its rules except some tennis superstars get special treatment and that is by far worse than no rules at all.
Isn’t it time for the Williams sisters to rise above the fray and do the right thing by coming back to their roots at Indian Wells where, back in the beginning when the world was just learning about the teenage tennis stars-in- the-making, Indian Wells granted them wild cards into the event and helped the Williams sisters jump start their professional careers?
Indian Wells continues to extend a welcoming hand to the sisters in the hope they will return to play there. It would demonstrate great maturity on their part if the Williams sisters would return, extending the fans in California a chance to make up for their rude and boorish behavior back in 2001.
It is the right thing to do. But, let’s face it –– how many would have the faith and courage to do the “right thing” in this day and age of skepticism and self-aggrandizement?
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First the sisters were justified. Then they should be punished, and then they should be grateful. Then you go on to characterize them as prima donnas and sticking out their tongues at the tennis world. Problem is, for the whites who have written about this incident each year, and have no idea what the Sisters endured that day, nothing justifies their continued boycott of this tournament. For you, they should stop this nonsense and just come on back. Bad behavior expressed by white people always comes down to a few bad seeds (or idiots). But, sadly, I have never heard an apology from the IW community — even for those so-called idiots. I doubt seriously if the Williams sisters were white, they would have been subjected to the relentless booing and bad language that Venus and Serena endured that day. Your column turned on the Sisters as quickly as the IW tennis fans — nasty, assuming and judgmental. I miss the Sisters at this big tournament, but until white people stop blaming them for what happened there, they should stay away.
Yes – you are absolutely right. There is no reason to read or write about this incident any further because no one is going to change their mind or their stance on the boycott, the Williams sisters or racism in America. It was a pointless exercise to attempt to suggest a remedy – because there is none. Never will happen. Right…I get it…just don't talk about it and pretend it does not exist. What was I thinkking!!
Talking about it from a point of view that is more sensitive to the ugliness of racism would be a start. Using the "N" word is a non starter in any discussion. The WTA not immediately apologizing makes it worse.
This article is certainly not "talking about it" in any constructive way. By the end of the article, you lay all the blame on the sisters and imply that Indian Wells has offered some sort of olive branch in apology. The WTA is damn lucky to have the Williams sisters back, drawing more viewers than ever. One tournament, regardless of how important you view it– most people have never heard of it, does not the WTA make. As a white person, I have no doubt that at the incident in 2001 racial slurs were slung freely and harshly. The have every right to stand for what they believe. Go sisters!
lol, you are a twit. Your writing style is reminiscent of something an 8 year old might produce. Your argument is flatly supported, sounding more like a rant than anything. What's worse is your reply to Two Dream sounds down right retarded.
You should quit writing now. If someone is paying you, i guarantee it's just to fill up space or to laugh at you behind your back. Thank you, by the way, for making me laugh today; and yes, I'm laughing AT you. Good luck with your career simp. Oh and by the way, you're missing a 'k' in 'thinkking'. I know you're slow so, yes, I'm calling you a racist prick.
I'm watching IW on the Tennis Channel and wondering why the Williams Sisters aren't there. I do some research online, find this article, and for the past 10 years had no idea this 2001 incident happened, and I watch tennis all the time. Well, my reaction to the Williams' boycott is: HELL YES THEY SHOULD BOYCOTT!!! For the Williams Sisters to be the sustaining superstars in actual performance (not just hype) they have been for a decade, and to not be recognized by the media and sports promoters as American superstars like Jordan, Woods, et al., is outrageous. Their accomplishments have been belittled and marginalized their entire careers. Screw the WTA and IW organizers. Who gives a f*** what they say or think. It's the fans alone that recognize the Williams' greatness, and apparently nobody else in the tennis establishment–so f*** 'em all! You do what you need to do and go be great, Williams Sisters!
I agree the Williams sisters should boycott, I boycott Indian Well too! I began watching tennis because of Venus, now I watch Tennis all year long now. I hear what American commentators say about the Williams sister who have won major after major. I hear the disdain and jealousy in there voices. Furthermore, there are times I can not believe the things that come out of the other players mouths that they air. The racial incidents that they have endured have been numerous around the world. I'm glad they took a stand in their own country. They have shown me grace in how to handle oneself in this predicament. They kick ass every time they get on the court and don't have to say a word!
Let's get one thing straight, Indian Wells did NOTHING to jump start the Williams Sisters' career, absolutely nothing. It is a tournament very much like other tournaments and fans everywhere don't give a sh*t that Venus and Serena don't play there, only the miserable and envious tennis community does as well as the racist crowds of that tournament. All this BS hype about a reconciliation has nothing to do with peace or maturity, it has everything to do with MONEY. Yep, no Williams Sisters equals poor ticket sales and poor ratings. So all this nonsense may be about something green, but it isn't an olive branch that's for sure.
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Indian Wells SHOULD go the way of the pteranodon if the Williams Sisters boycott it year in and year out! AND THEY WOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN DOING SO! The WTA should take a flying #%&! if these people think for one minute they can boss the Williams sisters around.
Even if they went back to Indian Wells, the people there know why they were boycotted. They will just be defensive and Venus and Serena will never forget how they were treated. Why should they have to remember that. Oh sure Indian Wells the establishment would like them back because television revenues are always higher when they play but these two girls don't have the heart to play with so many bad memories is just cruel.