By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
The sport of tennis is a very competitive one, however, many had hoped the women of color who managed to dominate the sport could stay true to some sort of sisterhood. Unfortunately, Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens haven’t been so lucky when it comes to their relationship. Sloane has always considered Serena to be a role model and inspiration to her career, however, she told ESPN The Magazine that the Williams sister turned on her when she beat her on the court:
“She’s not said one word to me, not spoken to me, not said hi, not looked my way, not been in the same room with me since I played her in Australia. And that should tell everyone something, how she went from saying all these nice things about me to unfollowing me on Twitter.
“Like, seriously! People should know. They think she’s so friendly and she’s so this and she’s so that — no, that’s not reality! You don’t unfollow someone on Twitter, delete them off of BlackBerry Messenger. I mean, what for? Why?”
Serena Williams took the high road when she got wind of Stephens’ interview and told reporters when asked what she thought about Sloane’s comments:
“I don’t really know. I don’t have many thoughts. I’m a big Sloane Stephens fan and always have been. I’ve always said that I think she can be the best in the world. I’ll always continue to think that and always be rooting for her. So I really just always wish her — and anyone, really, especially from America — the best. We don’t have that many American players, so it’s always exciting to see so many young players doing so well.”
Sloane Stephens on the other hand decided to take to her Twitter account this time and declared peace with Serena. She also claims she feels she was out of line for making the comments to the magazine. She tweets:
I am so glad they decided to drop the beef. Black women need to learn how to stick together.
Right!
Agreed.
First of all, Sloane needs to grow up. Did she notice how Serena rebutted her childlike statement to a major magazine. Yea, take note Sloaney. Secondly, Serena is focused, she’s still in the game. She probably realized she needed to cut ties socially with alot of people not just Sloaney to stay focused and to not have a conflict of interest. I mean, you did say she was your mentor. Finally, Sloane, get over it. It’s business and a lonely one at that. Sloane needs to focus on her tennis and being better than the ones that paved the way for her- Serena. Also, Sloane needs to have a sit down with Melanie Oudin, ask her how that sudden fame worked out for her. Yea, not great. All these young players with no direction, and here Serena was trying to take her under her wing, but this chick didn’t see it. Oh well, not a fan of Sloane anyway. I always thought there was something about her that didn’t sit well. So for Sloane, this isn’t telling of Serena, this is more telling of you. You’re young, silly and immature. Grow up!
Sloane is the reason Serena stopped following her, and I would have dropped her too. Who has time for an immature twit who creates controversy? The media will gobble you up and spit you out all by itself, so why help them? In my opinion, Sloane was the one with the problem. Everyone knew that Serena was injured the reason Sloane won, and if anyone had any doubt, all one has to do is look at their match track record since the Australian Open. I rather liked Sloane before that incident, but when she said that Kim Clijsters was her role model, I was threw with that chick. Don’t get me wrong, I like Kim, but I love the Williams sisters. They more than any other Black tennis players of the open era made it possible for Sloane to enjoy the benefits she enjoys and they never did. The media was never receptive to these two strong Black women of color. Along comes fickle Sloane cheesing and grinning and they simply think she’s so charming. I can appreciate Venus and Serena who remain true to who they were and are, but then again, so has Sloane.
I love this!!!
This is what I like to hear. Good for them. Never drag another black woman in public. Especially when you’re in a field where’s there not enough of you on top.
Honestly this shouldn’t have ever happened. Who takes to a major magazine to say something about someone. Really…If it were that big a deal, she should’ve approached Serena or text or tweeted her about it.
I used to think Sloane was the next thing for Black women in tennis. I thought she had the power of Serena and the poise of Venus. A nice combination, but now look at her, she’s a cry baby, winner and immature flying off at the mouth without thinking of the repricusions.
Her PR should be fired and her mom needs to step in. This is not what you want, the Williams sisters have been the staple for tennis for years now. I only watch it because of them. Once they have hung the racks to dry, I’m out. Like Serena said, we have to support our American players (men & women) there aren’t that many left and there aren’t any good ones worth watching left. So why degrade eachother like that.
I’m greatly disappointed in Sloane, but I think I saw this coming. From the time she was telling her coach on the sideline, “she’s so disrespectful, that is so disrespecful”. Her own coach said to her to throw some in for herself to get focused and motivated. She took herself out of that game. And as for the Australian Open, we all saw that game, Sloane didn’t do anything new or different to Serena, we all saw Serena jam her back. But just like a Serena, she kept fighting and almost got the game. So, for Sloane to act as if because she beat Serena that one time that Serena was bitter, no, she wasn’t. She was hoping you would continue to do great, but oh wait, you didn’t! You got caught up in emotions from your high and lost in a horrible fashion. The true Sloane we thought you to be.
So sad…
Sloanne should have never said anything in the first place.
#Cosign
I love it. I’m glad they squashed it. It was petty anyway.
Good.
I’m glad because this was the stupidest beef I’ve ever seen.
It was petty. I’m glad they dropped it, at least in the public eye.
Nice!!!! They are both amazing and shouldn’t cut each other for something so silly!
Now we need Ciara and Rihanna needs to squash the beef.
Beautiful!