The first disappointment was the “Serena incident,” wherein Serena Williams berated a linesperson for calling a foot fault on a second serve that brought her to match point down. Although Serena’s behavior was inexcusable (regardless of the accuracy of the foot fault call), her failure to acknowledge her faux pas and her failure to apologize to the linesperson, Kim Clijsters, and everyone who witnessed her boorish display, was more disappointing.
Federer's Failure
The second disappointment stemmed from an incident during the latter stages of the first set in the Federer-Djokovic semifinal match. At 5-6, 30-30, Djokovic served an ace wide to Federer’s forehand. The ball was flush on the line, Federer lunged and missed completely. Although the linesperson made no out call, the chair umpire overruled. Djokovic challenged and the replay showed that the serve was flush on the line. Rather than award the point to Djokovic, the chair umpire required the players to replay the point, although it was clearly an ace that Federer was unable to retrieve.
After the intitial surprise at the Chair Umpire's failure to acknowledge his error and award the point to Djokovic who had rightfully won it, it was more surprising to note that Federer, typically the most sportsmanlike of players, failed to concede the point. Federer later did just that when he was up two sets to love and on serve.
The Federer disappointment continued into the final match of the Open, which he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro. During the match, Federer engaged in a profane exchange with the Chair Umpire. A perennial Sportsmanship Award winner, Federer has apparently lost more than his dominance. His civility and sportsmanship appear to have been diminished as the challenge to his dominance has increased. It is so much easier to be sportsmanlike when one wins; isn’t it?
Cultural Malaise
Although Federer’s failure to do the right thing on multiple occasions during the US Open was more surprising than Serena’s (she has never demonstrated much grace in defeat), both appear to be reflections of current social norms. Perhaps this is the product of an overactive imagination, but wasn’t there a time when doing the right thing, displaying integrity and class were valued characteristics in United States culture?
In today’s world, it appears that winning or besting the other in sports, business, and even personal relationships, is much more valued. Not only does doing the “wrong thing” seem to be on its way to becoming generally accepted, but acknowledging when you have done the wrong thing and apologizing for it is only done when there is no apparent alternative.
Misbehavior in High Places
One need look no further than the multitude of politicians, entertainers, business leaders, even clergy who have been called on their misdeeds, have denied those deeds, only to issue apologies of questionable sincerity when there seemed to be no other way out of an untenable situation. If those who hold positions of high cultural esteem are so disregarding of integrity, can anything more be expected of the general public?
Both Serena Williams and Roger Federer are celebrated and very well compensated for exceptional physical performances on the courts. Is it too much to ask for them to represent themselves and their profession with integrity and class?
Historical Good Examples
The depth of the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tours is greater than at any time in the history of the game, and the quality of play is unparalleled. Hopefully the examples set by tennis greats such as Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles, Chris Evert, and Billy Jean King will be ones followed rather than that set by John McEnroe, or even the best of competitions will disappointing.
