Serena Williams fans took to social media to express their distaste at an apparent double standard when it came to the treatment of their favorite tennis star.
With the 2021 Australian Open is well underway, Serena is in the hunt for her eighth title in the competition.
Over the weekend, she faced off with Aryna Sabalenka whom she beat in three sets to storm into the quarter finals.
But the match went viral for completely different reasons as some keen fans were critical of Sabalenka’s behavior in the game.
In the two-hour match, Sabalenka at some point thrust her racket onto the court in frustration but not much was thought of it.
It was quite interesting since Serena in 2018 also showed her human side of the sport with the same acts, but the repercussions that followed her were much heftier.
@Knightcartoons cartoon is not racist or sexist …. it rightly mocks poor behavior by a tennis legend … Mark has the full support of everyone @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/KWMT3QahJh
— Damon Johnston (@damonTheOz) September 11, 2018
When Serena did this, they were calling her out of her name, shaming her, making racist comments and fining her. They better fine this girl and criticize her https://t.co/I9OepzhOJc
— Gregory L. Coleman (@GregoryLColeman) February 15, 2021
During the 2018 US Open final, she received a penalty point for breaking her racket; an act which earned her mass scrutiny from media.
Australian outlets went to the lengths of painting her as an ‘angry black woman’ and was later handed a fine of $17,000.
Tennis fans with long memories could not help but notice the huge difference in how Sabalenka was treated compared to Serena two years ago.
“When Serena Williams did this they called her aggressive blah blah blah I WANNA SEE THE SAME ENERGY FROM THESE REPORTERS,” one fan said.
