Almost three months after Serena Williams’ momentous outburst in the final of the US Open, her British colleague Johanna Konta has objected to the American’s accusation of sexism.
On special terrain Johanna Konta was asked these days about a special moment of the season. Well, the 2017 Wimbledon semi-finalist wasn’t directly involved when Serena Williams used heavy verbal artillery in the Flushing Meadows final against Naomi Osaka in September.
But her opinion did not hold back contact during her appearance in front of members of the Oxford University Union. “I don’t think it was a sexist thing. I think it was emotions that rocketed – according to the snowball principle. That’s what I think,” said the Sydney-born contact, smiling, adding: “Don’t hate me, Serena!”
Williams had accused chair referee Carlos Ramos of sexism during the finals in New York. The Portuguese had warned the 23-time Grand Slam winner three times and awarded her opponent Osaka first a point and then a game. Among other things because of illegal coaching of her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Williams called Ramos a thief and a liar.
“I have seen other men who have said other things to other referees,” Serena Williams (37) had said one hour after the 2:6, 4:6 at her press conference: “I am here to fight for women’s rights, equality and all that. I called him a thief because he took a game from me. He would never have taken a game away from a man for that.”
Contact, the British number one, countered now. It was also “for equal rights”. But that’s why she doesn’t always think it’s right to steer everything in the direction of the sexism debate. It’s like, “Because I’m a woman, I don’t get it. “I do not always agree with this approach,” said the world rankings-37th before the students of the noble Oxford University.
Nevertheless, Konta (27) left no doubt that she values Serena Williams’ efforts in women’s rights. “People like you and Billie Jean King have started discussions that can make a difference,” said the former world number four.
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