This feels a little Demi Lavato-ish....

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how it will all work out ultimately, but if she felt she needed to take a stand, I'm glad she did.

I think if she can take a break she will. They're not going to change their press conference rules - Roland Garros threw a fit over Serena Williams wearing a catsuit and were immovable. I hope she comes back in 2022 and takes every trophy.

human beings just can't enjoy life without a narrative. her tennis game should be enough for people. the media nowadays are 95% gossip profiteers and 5% useful journalism

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet if she were just a grumpy guy player who refused to comment she wouldn’t have been fined or faced expulsion.

I think this is being overlooked. Look at how Serena was treated. Women of color can’t get uppity.

Women of color also don’t have “acceptable “ ways to protect themselves.
I think it’s sad that she felt her need to protect her mental health — and that THIS became the big story, overshadowing the tennis.

Why do the women always have to suffer?

I'm French. I think Roland-Garros needs to apologize, cancel the fine, stop requiring press time, and invite her back.

Journos can be really really gross in these interviews. Good for her.

I'm not sure how it will all work out ultimately, but if she felt she needed to take a stand, I'm glad she did.

Anonymous wrote:I bet if she were just a grumpy guy player who refused to comment she wouldn’t have been fined or faced expulsion.

I think this is being overlooked. Look at how Serena was treated. Women of color can’t get uppity.

Anonymous wrote:I really wish she hadn't felt like she should withdraw. There should NOT be a rule that athletes have to speak with press, either before or after competing, in any competition.

Again, this is how the prize money gets determined. It's how much the media & advertisers are willing to pay. We could probably have sports with no interviews, but the prize money will be less. If someone wants to start a tournament with that set-up, they should feel free. Saying there should not be requirements is crazy. All jobs have requirements.

I really wish she hadn't felt like she should withdraw. There should NOT be a rule that athletes have to speak with press, either before or after competing, in any competition.

She can handle playing and winning tennis matches. That is the job she can handle. Events that allow her to do that will be able to get her to participate.

Look, we all have to do unpleasant things as part of our jobs. This "woe is me" philosophy is a bit much in my opinion. If she can't handle the job, she should find a new one.

Anonymous wrote:She’s cheap! What’s 15,000 to a multimillionaire...she should have simply stuck to her convictions...

$15K was just the first penalty which she paid. The second penalty (for missing the next day's event) was expulsion. If you're expelled - you are unable to play in future Grand Slams. That would be a career-ending offense for her.

The event can set the rules they want but are they really going to get the best of the best participating if the rules are too inflexible.

She’s cheap! What’s 15,000 to a multimillionaire...she should have simply stuck to her convictions...