[Jakeev]

Is it me or does it seem like the sisters are more respected by fellow players today more than ever?

Watching them over the last two weeks, there seemed to be a lot of smiles, classy gestures and genuine handshakes by their opponents than I have ever seen in tournaments past. Even the commentators seemed rather positive.

Am I seeing things or are Venus and Serena finally getting the respect they deserve by at least the tour?

 

[eck]

It's easier to see why with the players because most of these girls probably saw Venus/Serena as their idols when they were younger. That wasn't the case 10 years ago, so of course there is respect there.
As for commentators, maybe they're realizing/appreciating the fact that they are at the twilight of their careers and probably once they retire, they'll really miss it.

 

[charmedRic]

Also, both of them have been through hell and back away from tennis. From the loss of their sister, injuries, hospital trips, surgeries, and life-long-diseases. It really puts it into perspective for both them and those looking from the outside in.

 

[Olórin]

Their true peers and rivals have gone: Henin, Mauresmo, Hingis, Davenport, Capriati. I think it's easier to appreciate and respect someone when you know your career will outlast theirs, that you will have chances when all they can do it watch.

Plus I think they are both more open than they used to be in their early days on tour. Less intimidating in the locker room probably.

 

[tennisbear7]

Serena in particular seems to have chilled out a lot more. It's refreshing that she and the other girls can view each other in such a positive light. But this is probably because this generation just doesn't have the game to truly beat an AgeRena playing at 20%. Put a Capriati/Hingis type character in the mix and we might see some fireworks again...

 

[Halepsova]

Nah, those girls are just scared of them.

 

[Volcana]

I doubt they're more respected. They've been respected since the late nineties. I expect they're better liked. Also, even though Serena still beats these players, she doesn't scare them. They're a tacit assumption that when they hit their true peaks, Serena will be gone. For singles purposes, Venus is already just-another-player. And, as has been said, today's 22 year old was watching Venus and Serena in slam finals when they were 7.

 

[pov]

As players the WS have always been respected by fellow players. In fact I'd say they've more respected by other players than my #1 fave - Sharapova.

 

[Chrissie-fan]

What Volcana says. They were always respected as players, now they are also liked as people. I think it has more to do with the attitude of the other players towards them than vice versa. For the younger players the Williams sisters were/are idols, or at least players they looked up to. For contemporaries like Hingis, Capriati and Henin they were rivals with whom they did battle for supremacy.

 

[Jakeev]

I doubt they're more respected. They've been respected since the late nineties. I expect they're better liked. Also, even though Serena still beats these players, she doesn't scare them. They're a tacit assumption that when they hit their true peaks, Serena will be gone. For singles purposes, Venus is already just-another-player. And, as has been said, today's 22 year old was watching Venus and Serena in slam finals when they were 7.

Volcana you have been here long enough to know in their early years, many players didn't seem to like or respect the sisters.

Just seemed like at this Wimbledon, not a negative thing was said about either woman.

 

[hingisGOAT]

They are respected more and it's not a good thing IMO. These girls today don't have the self-belief to beat Serena, although I can't blame them, after all it is called generation SUCK for a reason. I think most of them have seen Serena beat down Sharapova 1 to many times in the last 8 years, dating back to when they were just spectators at 13 years old. Kids are highly impressionable.

Now players like Graf, Hingis etc. truly believed (and with good reason) that they were the better player, so while they respected them as rivals, the fear wasn't there at all...

 

[maharbabackwards]

Also, for the longest time I think it was Williams Sisters versus WTA. I think Venus Williams probably endeared herself a lot to her colleagues when she stood up to the All England Club and demanded equality. And she did it in a classy, eloquent way as well. How could you not respect someone who essentially stood up for your livelihood?

 

[mdterp01]

Also, both of them have been through hell and back away from tennis. From the loss of their sister, injuries, hospital trips, surgeries, and life-long-diseases. It really puts it into perspective for both them and those looking from the outside in.

THIS!!!

P.S. Great to see a Puerto Rican flag on here. My mother's side of the family is Puerto Rican and I love traveling there every year to see relatives and enjoy the sand, surf, and beautiful people.

 

[T-rex]

I think Venus is very well respected. She all but seems to be the leader when topics such as labor issues come up.

I think Nadal is the leader of the ATP. And Venus is the leader of the WTA.


Venus has kind of become the elder statesman of the tour.

 

[T-rex]

They are respected more and it's not a good thing IMO. These girls today don't have the self-belief to beat Serena, although I can't blame them, after all it is called generation SUCK for a reason. I think most of them have seen Serena beat down Sharapova 1 to many times in the last 8 years, dating back to when they were just spectators at 13 years old. Kids are highly impressionable.

Now players like Graf, Hingis etc. truly believed (and with good reason) that they were the better player, so while they respected them as rivals, the fear wasn't there at all...

Did Serena beat down Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004?

 

[Coconut91]

I think they've always been respected, and feared. It's just that back then with Henin, Capriati, etc, they were all "equals", competing agaisnt each other at their peak years, so it's normal there were rivalries and tension between them.

Today I think V and S are admired, because everyone knows what they have achieved. Serena is not hostile towards youngsteers because they're not really her equals or true rivals, and youngsteers are not that threatened by Serena because she will retire sooner or later and for most of their careers, their main rivals will be players of their own generation. :shrug:

Basically they belong to different times, so there's room for niceness and admiration. :lol: