[TPlaya8]

This is a question I've been wanting to ask for a long time.

It seems (to me) all across the tennis world, (the fans, the players, the commentators) there has always been this certain attitude towards Venus that not even Serena gets.

Its very confusing to me because Venus is very gracious in victories and defeats. She walks up to that net and shakes and smiles at every opponent. She doens't have the outbursts towards the refs, she doesn't argue cause or complains on the court. She doesn't bad mouth or throw shade at any player, but she seems to get the worst from alot of ppl.

I remember all those matches Kim wouldn't even look at her when they shook hands at the net. Let alone cheek kiss like she does everyone else, (and these were after wins by Kim)

Then even now there are the constant negative comments when this girl is out there fighting trying to play tennis while dealing with an autoimmune disease that cause extreme fatigue and joint soreness and all that. Wouldn't that be something she is commended for?

All don't know if this all came from when she was younger just came on tour and she had an attitude then or what but I'm just curious.

 

[Sammo]

Unlike Serena, she's never been very sociable with the other players

 

[TeraByte]

I do think that Venus is respected and reputable player, even here.

 

[T-rex]

This is a question I've been wanting to ask for a long time.

It seems (to me) all across the tennis world, (the fans, the players, the commentators) there has always been this certain attitude towards Venus that not even Serena gets.

Its very confusing to me because Venus is very gracious in victories and defeats. She walks up to that net and shakes and smiles at every opponent. She doens't have the outbursts towards the refs, she doesn't argue cause or complains on the court. She doesn't bad mouth or throw shade at any player, but she seems to get the worst from alot of ppl.

I remember all those matches Kim wouldn't even look at her when they shook hands at the net. Let alone cheek kiss like she does everyone else, (and these were after wins by Kim)

Then even now there are the constant negative comments when this girl is out there fighting trying to play tennis while dealing with an autoimmune disease that cause extreme fatigue and joint soreness and all that. Wouldn't that be something she is commended for?

All don't know if this all came from when she was younger just came on tour and she had an attitude then or what but I'm just curious.

Easy. She's black. We can all dance around the "giant pink elephant" in the room if we want. But the bottom line is that there is more racism on the WTA tour than in any other major professional sports league certainly in my country (USA). Its not close. Look at the applause and support they get from the audience during matches. Look at the WTA promotional campaigns...etc.etc.etc. The WTA and its fan base is far behind the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL etc. I don't know why. But that is the truth nobody wants to speak of.

 

[Bijoux0021]

This is a question I've been wanting to ask for a long time.

It seems (to me) all across the tennis world, (the fans, the players, the commentators) there has always been this certain attitude towards Venus that not even Serena gets.

Its very confusing to me because Venus is very gracious in victories and defeats. She walks up to that net and shakes and smiles at every opponent. She doens't have the outbursts towards the refs, she doesn't argue cause or complains on the court. She doesn't bad mouth or throw shade at any player, but she seems to get the worst from alot of ppl.

I remember all those matches Kim wouldn't even look at her when they shook hands at the net. Let alone cheek kiss like she does everyone else, (and these were after wins by Kim)

Then even now there are the constant negative comments when this girl is out there fighting trying to play tennis while dealing with an autoimmune disease that cause extreme fatigue and joint soreness and all that. Wouldn't that be something she is commended for?

All don't know if this all came from when she was younger just came on tour and she had an attitude then or what but I'm just curious.

It's really hard to tell why the negative comments. Only the players on tour probably know the answers. I liked her attitude when she was younger, and I like her attitude today. But it seems like some in the media still hold her accountable for Richard's comments when she had first came on tour.

 

[Veerror]

The reason why Kim was annoyed was because Venus kept catching her ball toss and throwing her off.

 

[TPlaya8]

Easy. She's black. We can all dance around the "giant pink elephant" in the room if we want. But the bottom line is that there is more racism on the WTA tour than in any other major professional sports league certainly in my country (USA). Its not close. Look at the applause and support they get from the audience during matches. Look at the WTA promotional campaigns...etc.etc.etc. The WTA and its fan base is far behind the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL etc. I don't know why. But that is the truth nobody wants to speak of.

Yea that was something else I didn't even mention how when she plays other oppnents from different countries they support the opponent even at US tournaments like the US Open and Miami,

 

[Renalicious]

Unlike Serena, she's never been very sociable with the other players

This is what I think too.

It's easy to point it as racism but a lot of players in the locker room like Serena and she's (obviously) black too. Sloane Stephens is black and people like her. So it's not that.

Venus, to me, seems to keep to herself and won't waste time socialising with other players. That's why probably no one seems to 'know her' that well except her sister.

 

[Sister Price]

Unlike Serena, she's never been very sociable with the other players

That's far too simplistic an answer. You are not on the WTA tour, so you don't know this. I know that, near the beginning of her career, this was said of Venus, but who can say whether it's true now? Venus seems to have matured greatly since that time, projecting a much friendlier image. I'd very much doubt that she is still as unsociable as people said she was. As for people on this forum, there are the vapids (like dsanders) who hate her for no reason (or no reason that I could repeat popuarly), and those who do it because it's trendy (it seems to me). There is no good reason to hate Venus. Not, at least, because of the way she acts.

 

[Bijoux0021]

This is what I think too.

It's easy to point it as racism but a lot of players in the locker room like Serena and she's (obviously) black too. Sloane Stephens is black and people like her. So it's not that.

Venus, to me, seems to keep to herself and won't waste time socialising with other players. That's why probably no one seems to 'know her' that well except her sister.

Agreed. I've heard Lindsay said this about Venus a few times.

The bottom line is the sisters have different personalities. Venus is an introvert. Serena is an extrovert. So of course some players are likely to feel more comfortable being around Serena.

 

[Pump-it-UP]

Unlike Serena, she's never been very sociable with the other players

She's become more sociable late in her career. She just sticks to a small group of people, so some of the other girls don't know her too well. :shrug: She's good friends with Wozniacki, Azarenka, Kuznetsova, Stubbs, Voskoboeva, Petrova, both Rodionovas, and she used to be quite fond of Aga too. She was even giggling and spending time with her old rival Jankovic last summer, and everyone used to say that they never liked eachother. :lol: This isn't the same 1999 Venus who avoided everyone on tour except for Serena.

 

[Bijoux0021]

That's far too simplistic an answer. You are not on the WTA tour, so you don't know this. I know that, near the beginning of her career, this was said of Venus, but who can say whether it's true now? Venus seems to have matured greatly since that time, projecting a much friendlier image. I'd very much doubt that she is still as unsociable as people said she was. As for people on this forum, there are the vapids (like dsanders) who hate her for no reason (or no reason that I could repeat popuarly), and those who do it because it's trendy (it seems to me). There is no good reason to hate Venus. Not, at least, because of the way she acts.

Well said.

 

[Shuji Shuriken]

Venus does Venus, and the gorls can't take. But bitches will deal

 

[SilverSlam]

I always thought Serena was the least popular and respected one, regardless of results just because of the outbursts and a few other things.

Personally, I do like Venus a lot more than Serena, and I think it may be that she is so professional about what she does, and that she doesn't really make too much noise about herself and stuff.

 

[Mary Cherry.]

I always thought Serena was the least popular and respected one, regardless of results just because of the outbursts and a few other things.

Personally, I do like Venus a lot more than Serena, and I think it may be that she is so professional about what she does, and that she doesn't really make too much noise about herself and stuff.

This. Even non-Venus/WS fans seem to respect Venus. Serena, not so much.

 

[MrProdigy555]

I always thought Serena was the least popular and respected one, regardless of results just because of the outbursts and a few other things.

Personally, I do like Venus a lot more than Serena, and I think it may be that she is so professional about what she does, and that she doesn't really make too much noise about herself and stuff.

It's easy to throw it at the "outbursT," but people/fans have been outwardly rude to Serena since she started. I personally believe it's because she's simply a strong, opinionated, out-spoken woman. Blaming it on the outburst is bs, because Nalbandian's outburst was much worse in my opinion, but did his image get horribly tarnished because of it? I think not. If anything, people tried to rationalize his actions.

 

[AcesHigh]

It's easy to throw it at the "outbursT," but people/fans have been outwardly rude to Serena since she started. I personally believe it's because she's simply a strong, opinionated, out-spoken woman. Blaming it on the outburst is bs, because Nalbandian's outburst was much worse in my opinion, but did his image get horribly tarnished because of it? I think not. If anything, people tried to rationalize his actions.

Nalbandian is one of the most despised players on tour.

 

[vixter]

I think Venus nowadays is very respected, with all right, considering she has been one of the most influencial players of all time and is a great spokesperson for the WTA tour.

Although people here on TF is very harsch against her due to the fact that she is still playing, while obviously past her peak, and maybe not a contender for GS anymore. People think she should retire so that she does not tarnish her legacy. And she's critiziced for not smiling and look like she loves being out there even when she has her bad days.

 

[The Dawntreader]

I just think Venus has never cared about her public image, especially when it comes to being a 'darling' of the media, or someone who wins the 'Nicest WTA player of the year' bullshit award every year.

It's clear she's a very private person, and has made no secret in hiding it. Good on her.

 

[AcesHigh]

And Venus seems very well-liked in her second career. At first, she was cocky, abrasive, cold and people hated her. She was a villain at a very young age.

When she started losing constantly to Serena though I think sympathy made many fans start to like her. And then she matured as she got older, started fighting for equal pay, women's rights and became a leader on the tour. Not to mention, her sportsmanship in the last 10 years has been pretty spotless and she's the ultimate role model. She also hasnt been dominant in 11 years so it's easy to root for her.

I'm not sure why she gets flack on TF.. it's really the only place I've seen anyone actively dislike Venus in the last 8 years or so.