Serena Williams' arrogance is back, which should be good for her tennis, if not her image.
The world's top-ranked women's tennis player proclaimed that her forgiveness of and return to Indian Wells in 2015 was the biggest moment of her career, according to Perthnow.com.au.
Williams seems to have a hard time consistently putting her thoughts into words without coming off as condescending.
The Perth Now reporter talked about how he wants to approach asking the tennis sensation about her most memorable occasion in the sport, knowing that she likely has been asked that very question ad nauseam. Her answer surprised him.
Serena And Venus Williams' 1999 Indian Wells Incident Rekindled
"Something that stands out is my return to Indian Wells," Williams said in the interview. "I can't say I expected that to happen, and it took a lot of forgiveness and a lot for me to go back. Just coming to that decision to be like, you know, I'm ready to go back.
"I didn't have to go back and people were telling me 'you NEVER have to go back, we don't blame you.' But overcoming that is something that stands out."
Williams', sister Venus and father Richard all claim that they were victims of racism at Indian Wells in 1999, stemming from the infamous Venus withdrawal four minutes before her semifinals match against Serena.
When Serena played Kim Clijsters in the finals, fans booed loudly when Richard and Venus entered the stadium. Richard shook his fist at the crowd at one point. But his first claim of racism during that day didn't come until nine days after the tournament, and their claims of racist taunts having been hurled at them remains in dispute, according to a 2009 ESPN article.
But Serena's response made sound as if she were the bigger woman by returning to Indian Wells. And that may be why she doesn't reveal much to the media. She often sounds less gracious than she should.
Had Williams simply said the 1999 incident had an impact on her family, but she felt it important to the tennis community to work through any problems she had with that tournament and start all over with a clean slate, she could've been praised for such a response.
But showing herself as the bigger woman by graciously deciding to forgive a tournament and its fans shows a lack of humility.
But whatever gets her motivated to get back out on the court. ...
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