Serena Williams has had an eventful weekend.
Following a spectacular start, the tennis goddess announced her plan to drop out of the French Open due to a pectoral injury, reports Reuters.
“Unfortunately, I’m having some issues with my pec muscle. Right now I can’t actually serve it’s kind of hard to play,” she said during a press conference.
“I’m having an MRI tomorrow, I’m going to stay here to see the doctors and see as many specialists as I can. I won’t know [how serious the injury is] until I get those results.”
And before the injury took her out, Williams had to deal with a haughty reporter who "waited 14 years" to ask her if she was intimidated by the looks of Maria Sharapova, a player who has lost to Williams 18 times in a row.
“After the 2004 Wimbledon match with Maria, I had the opportunity to interview Donald Trump on his [Los Angeles] golf course, and he said that Maria’s shoulders were incredibly alluring,” said reporter Bill Simons.
“And then he came up with this extraordinary analysis: that you were intimidated by her supermodel good looks," Simons continued. "My question is: Have you ever been intimidated by anyone on a tennis court, and what are your thoughts about the occurrence?”
Williams brushed the question off.
“I honestly don’t have any thoughts about that. I can’t say I have been intimidated by anyone. That’s all. That’s it,” she replied.
Simons’ response was a patronizing, “Work with me here, please."
“Work with me,” Williams replied, according to Teen Vogue.
Then Simons tried to serve her with, "We’re in this together, baby,”
To which Williams shot back, “No, we’re not; you’re not going home to a screaming baby.”
After getting some heat from social media, Simons issued a half-assed apology.
I apologize if my awkward ques seemed 2 empower Trump or attack Serena/I SO admire her/I've spent lifetime fighting racism/sexism/homophobia.Started campaign 2 name US Open Stad 4 Ashe/Lobbied long 2 get Serena 2 return to I. Wells/Called out police violence vs Blake/I'm so sorry
— INSIDE TENNIS (@BillSimons1) June 4, 2018
“I apologize if my awkward ques seemed 2 empower Trump or attack Serena/ I SO admire her/ I’ve spent [my] lifetime fighting racism/ sexism/ homophobia,” Simons wrote on Twitter.
“Started campaign to name US Open Stad 4 Ashe/ Lobbied long 2 get Serena 2 return to I. Wells/ Called out police violence vs Blake/ I’m so sorry [sic.]”
Twitter wasn't buying it.
You called an adult woman in a professional situation “baby” ✋???? just stop right there pic.twitter.com/UIPCSvhFdg
— BRickenbaker (@BethRickenbaker) June 4, 2018
Apologize to @serenawilliams not to tennis twitter, and do it at the same venue before all cameras n journos, just like how you were condescending and disrespectful to her in the very same setting. And get rid of the 'if' for goodness sake!
— Trudee (@TrudeeLuvTennis) June 4, 2018
I think you owe Serena an apology. While your question made me uncomfortable listening, i can’t imagine how Serena must have felt hearing it on this stage, in front of all of those cameras. I heard the disappointment in her tone. Apologize to her. She’ll accept bc she’s awesome.
— Gerren Peterson (@GerrenPeterson) June 4, 2018
That’s like someone White saying some wild shit then following it with “ohh I got a black friend!” Foh you know what you was doing ???????????? hold this pic.twitter.com/oV52uDDCMU
— Imagine Ink & Son (@imagineinkpd) June 4, 2018
We think Simons should take some advice from Alexis Ohanian, Williams' husband:
Waited 14 years… for this?
Pro-top: wait at least another 14 more years before asking another question. https://t.co/2krgZPfXQy— Alexis Ohanian Sr. ???? (@alexisohanian) June 3, 2018
