The Serena Meltdown

Dear Serena Williams –

Congratulations on regaining the Sony WTA number 1 ranking! With your strong performance at the WTA Championships in Doha this weekend, along with your Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles, your 2009 results have been quite impressive. Your ability to focus on your game has been even more extraordinary given that your professional tennis future lies in waiting from your highly publicized actions during this year’s U.S. Open. As a former United States Tennis Association official and teaching tennis professional, I observed your tirade at the Open with disappointment for our sport. At first, you appeared to successfully shake off the foot fault call as you walked up to serve the next point (match point), only to then lose total control of your emotions and release the full bane of your anger on the lonely official that was just trying to do her job. Imagine how intimidated Louise Engzell felt while you were violently shaking your racquet head at her, and at the very same time, the veins in your neck were threatening to burst wide open. After you directed an onslaught of vulgarity and threats at Ms. Engzell, she was probably wishing she could just climb off the court to find the first subway home. Imagine her initial thoughts the following day, when she read that you just wanted to give her a big hug! It would not come as a surprise if she immediately called a locksmith to have her deadbolt locks replaced.

You must have some anxiety not knowing the outcome of the sanctions to be imposed, if any, from the Grand Slam Committee for your U.S. Open actions. Although the sanctions may involve suspension from future Grand Slam events, this scenario appears unlikely given the big business interests of the WTA.

Maybe you can demonstrate to the Grand Slam Committee that you have learned the importance of forgiveness? You and your sister, Venus, have held an apparent grudge against the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament since 2001 when the public accused Venus of pulling out of the tournament to avoid a match-up against you and then you were booed during the finals against Kim Clijsters. If it is your hope that the Grand Slam Committee will be in a forgiving mood when they determine your future tournament fate; have you and Venus considered losing the chip on your shoulder and forgiving the good people of Indian Wells?

Sincerely,

Fritz