7 Of Serena Williams' Top Clap Backs Toward Media & Reporters
7 Times Serena Williams Had To Let Media Know Who TF She Is
Share the post
Share this link via
Or copy link

Source: Steve Russell / Getty
Prolific and record-breaking tennis player Serena Williams recently announced that she’s retiring after almost 25 years of dominating the sport.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” she expressed in a personal essay published by Vogue on August 9.
Currently a mother of one to her four-year-old daughter Olympia, Williams said she and her husband Alexis Ohanian have been trying to conceive for the past year.
“I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out,” wrote the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter,” she added elsewhere in the piece.
While Williams’ stellar performances on the court will be missed, fans of the athlete will undoubtedly also miss her quick-witted clap backs during her pre and post-game press conferences. Never one to shy away from addressing a shady or questionable comment thrown in her direction, Williams clap backs have always been entertaining.
Scroll through some of Williams’ most memorable clap backs toward media and reporters down below.
When She Addressed Sexist Comments Made By Former Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore
Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore resigned from his position in 2016 after his comments about the Women’s Tennis Association drew backlash.
Moore expressed his feeling that the WTA rode “on the coattails of the men,” according to ESPN.
“They don’t make any decisions, and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky,” said the CEO. “If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born because they have carried this sport. They really have.”
When Williams was asked about Moore’s comments the following day, the tennis champion highlighted that no one could diminish the contributions of women in tennis — especially those of herself and her sister.
“Obviously I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that,” Williams said, according to MIC. “If I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister, I couldn’t even bring up that number.”
“I think those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate,” she added. “Last year the women’s final at the U.S. Open sold out well before the men. I’m sorry, did Roger play in that final or Rafa or any man play in that final that was sold out before the men’s final? I think not.”
RELATED CONTENT: “Oracene Price Talks Protecting The ‘Secrets’ To Venus And Serena’s Success”
When A Reporter Wanted Her To Force A Smile
Williams kept her response to a demanding reporter all the way real during a press conference at the 2015 U.S. Open.
After a reporter asked her why she wasn’t smiling and “What’s wrong?” the tennis champion replied: “It’s 11:30. I don’t, to be perfectly honest, want to be here.”
“I just want to be in bed right now, and I have to wake up early to practice. And I don’t want to answer any of these questions, and you guys keep asking me the same questions. You’re not really making it super enjoyable,” Williams added.
When She Set The New York Times Straight For Misrepresenting Her In A Photo
Earlier this year, Williams took to Twitter to address The New York Times using a photo of her sister Venus for a write-up on Serena Ventures.
“No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough,” Williams tweeted. “This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes.”
The outlet acknowledged the grave “mistake” and explained that a correction would be issued in the following day’s paper.
When John McEnroe Didn’t Put Respect On Her Name
Back in 2017, fellow American tennis player John McEnroe said in an NPR interview that if Williams “played in the men’s circuit, she’d be like [ranked] 700 in the world.”
Since Williams is one of the best athletes in the world regardless of gender, she kindly reminded McEnroe about her status.
“Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based,” tweeted Williams, then an expectant mother. “I’ve never played anyone ranked ‘there’ nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby. Good day sir.”
When She Got A Reporter To Apologize After He Spoke Negatively About Her Performance
In early 2017, Serena made it clear to a reporter that she was proud of her performance on the court despite a loss to Lucie Safarova.
After the reporter claimed her effort in the match was “scrappy” and included “unforced errors” and “double faults,” Williams told him she didn’t appreciate his negativity.
After she asked him to, the reporter subsequently apologized for his harsh critiques.
When She Snarkily Responded To A Journalist’s Shade About A Draw
Williams quipped at a reporter during a pre-tournament press conference on June 26 after they asked how the athlete felt about the “comfortable” draw she was dealt when she could’ve drawn world No. 1 player Iga Swiatek.
“Every match is hard. Every match. You can’t underestimate anyone or any match or any day. And anyone could have been drawn to me,” Williams responded.
RELATED CONTENT: “Serena Williams Reflects On Collaborating With Virgil Abloh In New Film For Vogue“
-
Beauty Of 5: Meet Wakati, The Newest Line Catered Specifically To Women With 4C Hair
-
She Tried It: Inahsi Naturals Aloe Hibiscus Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler
-
She Tried It: Ivy Park Drip 2 and 2.2 Black Pack
-
‘Always Work On Your Next Move’—Kandi Burruss Talks Leaving ‘Housewives,’ Broadway Wins, And Her Mogul Mindset
-
8 Famous Lesbian Women Who Were Married To Men
-
Angel Reese 1 Is Here: Inside The WNBA Star’s Debut Sneaker With Reebok
-
HIV Myth-Busters: Debunking The Biggest Misconceptions In Black Communities
-
Falling Behind On Crucial HIV Treatment? Here's How To Get Back On Track