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Serena William’s retirement from tennis is proof women can’t have it all

Earlier this week one of the most successful and celebrated athletes of all time – 23-time Grand Slam winner – Serena Williams announced her retirement from tennis.

While the news was most definitely headline generating, the reason behind it was far from a shock.

The 41-year-old’s decision, explored in an ‘as told to’ article in Vogue, outlined that she was retiring, partly, in order to expand her family.

“Something’s got to give,” she said. And unfortunately, as sexist, unfair and outdated as this may be, she’s right.

“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote.

“I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.

“These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

In response to this, some have criticized Williams for using motherhood as an excuse, as if retirement is some sort of cop-out for not being a good enough tennis player.

I read comparisons between her and past female tennis players who competed after having children, putting them up on nonsensical pedestals because they didn’t use being a mum as an excuse for ‘giving up.’

While no, Williams has not won a Grand Slam Singles title since the Australian Open in 2017 (while pregnant with her daughter, a feat in its own right), not many other female players of the Open Era have either. In fact, there are only three – Kim Clijsters, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

The majority have found motherhood and professional tennis an unworkable combination.

Despite the challenges that arose, Williams still persevered and still succeeded, coming Runner Up in four Singles Grand Slams finals (yep, mum and all).

“I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression,” she said.

The biological inequality of being a woman is so difficult that it’s leading some professional tennis players with a desire to have it all (both career and family) to explore fertility options early in their careers.

Former Australian tennis player, Rennae Stubbs told ABC Radio National Breakfast: “I know players that want to have children, that want to have a family, have [frozen] their eggs, because they want to play until their mid-30s or 40s.

“So, they freeze eggs so they can have kids later on in life. But think about Tom Brady or Roger Federer or Rafa [Nadal] now; you can have children and keep playing because you’re not the one birthing it and taking nine months to have the child and then the recovery after the child.”

But it’s not just professional tennis players facing these challenges, elite athletes of all disciplines often struggle to find a workable way forward because there is a certain level of commitment that is expected, and this often means sacrificing other aspects of their life.

There is often also a peak performance window, usually in their 20s and 30s which coincides with fertility.

While yes, arguably it is possible to do both, there is no doubt that there would be additional costs, extra work and huge obstacles to overcome, including these fertility treatments, and for some, these just aren’t worth it.

In Williams’ case, this would have meant postponing having a second child in order to keep playing. Given she is 41, this may have meant giving up on extending her family for good.

“I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out,” she said.

While Williams says the choice is clear, the reality is, for her and many women it isn’t really a choice, and it is definitely not fair.

Regardless of what industry women work in, this situation, of having to choose between career or family, is prevalent and it’s not just a biological inequality but something more entrenched in our society and culture – you only need to look at paid parental leave to see Este.

Over the last decade, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 95 per cent of primary carer paid parental leave was taken by mothers, despite most primary carer paid parental leave schemes being accessible to both women and men.

Professor Marian Baird told Women’s Agenda that “Paid Parental Leave Act was “a giant leap forward” when it came out in 2010, but that it has “barely changed in a decade”.

“Our research shows that opening up opportunities for fathers to take paid carer leave will make significant headway towards gender equality,” said Professor Baird. “But after almost a decade since the Act was introduced, there’s been no movement in the duration of leave that’s accessible through paid secondary carer leave provisions like Dad and Partner Pay.”

While it’s easy to criticize anyone for their choices, the facts remain, as sexist and unfair as they may be – women can’t have it all – family and career – at least not at the same time. Williams is proof of that.

.

Categories
Sports

Serena William’s retirement from tennis is proof women can’t have it all

Earlier this week one of the most successful and celebrated athletes of all time – 23-time Grand Slam winner – Serena Williams announced her retirement from tennis.

While the news was most definitely headline generating, the reason behind it was far from a shock.

The 41-year-old’s decision, explored in an ‘as told to’ article in Vogue, outlined that she was retiring, partly, in order to expand her family.

“Something’s got to give,” she said. And unfortunately, as sexist, unfair and outdated as this may be, she’s right.

“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote.

“I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.

“These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

In response to this, some have criticized Williams for using motherhood as an excuse, as if retirement is some sort of cop-out for not being a good enough tennis player.

I read comparisons between her and past female tennis players who competed after having children, putting them up on nonsensical pedestals because they didn’t use being a mum as an excuse for ‘giving up.’

While no, Williams has not won a Grand Slam Singles title since the Australian Open in 2017 (while pregnant with her daughter, a feat in its own right), not many other female players of the Open Era have either. In fact, there are only three – Kim Clijsters, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

The majority have found motherhood and professional tennis an unworkable combination.

Despite the challenges that arose, Williams still persevered and still succeeded, coming Runner Up in four Singles Grand Slams finals (yep, mum and all).

“I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression,” she said.

The biological inequality of being a woman is so difficult that it’s leading some professional tennis players with a desire to have it all (both career and family) to explore fertility options early in their careers.

Former Australian tennis player, Rennae Stubbs told ABC Radio National Breakfast: “I know players that want to have children, that want to have a family, have [frozen] their eggs, because they want to play until their mid-30s or 40s.

“So, they freeze eggs so they can have kids later on in life. But think about Tom Brady or Roger Federer or Rafa [Nadal] now; you can have children and keep playing because you’re not the one birthing it and taking nine months to have the child and then the recovery after the child.”

But it’s not just professional tennis players facing these challenges, elite athletes of all disciplines often struggle to find a workable way forward because there is a certain level of commitment that is expected, and this often means sacrificing other aspects of their life.

There is often also a peak performance window, usually in their 20s and 30s which coincides with fertility.

While yes, arguably it is possible to do both, there is no doubt that there would be additional costs, extra work and huge obstacles to overcome, including these fertility treatments, and for some, these just aren’t worth it.

In Williams’ case, this would have meant postponing having a second child in order to keep playing. Given she is 41, this may have meant giving up on extending her family for good.

“I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out,” she said.

While Williams says the choice is clear, the reality is, for her and many women it isn’t really a choice, and it is definitely not fair.

Regardless of what industry women work in, this situation, of having to choose between career or family, is prevalent and it’s not just a biological inequality but something more entrenched in our society and culture – you only need to look at paid parental leave to see Este.

Over the last decade, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 95 per cent of primary carer paid parental leave was taken by mothers, despite most primary carer paid parental leave schemes being accessible to both women and men.

Professor Marian Baird told Women’s Agenda that “Paid Parental Leave Act was “a giant leap forward” when it came out in 2010, but that it has “barely changed in a decade”.

“Our research shows that opening up opportunities for fathers to take paid carer leave will make significant headway towards gender equality,” said Professor Baird. “But after almost a decade since the Act was introduced, there’s been no movement in the duration of leave that’s accessible through paid secondary carer leave provisions like Dad and Partner Pay.”

While it’s easy to criticize anyone for their choices, the facts remain, as sexist and unfair as they may be – women can’t have it all – family and career – at least not at the same time. Williams is proof of that.

.

Categories
Sports

Serena Williams’ parting shot at Margaret Court, nod to Ash Barty in retirement announcement

Serena Williams sounded just the tiniest little bit salty as she reflected on likely finishing her tennis career with one less grand slam title than Australian legend Margaret Court.

Williams’ crusade to win an elusive 24th major title and draw level with Court has been a five-year saga that looks almost certain to end fruitlessly when she retires at this year’s US Open.

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The 40-year-old American revealed her plans to end her career to focus on having another child in an article in Vogue Magazine published on Tuesday night (AEST).

Williams referenced Court twice in the piece, and while she was careful with her words left the impression she should be remembered as tennis’ greatest ever player.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where she fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

It was her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, some 14 months ago. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June.

“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’ I get that. It’s a good fantasy,” she wrote.

“But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”

Another Aussie champion, Ash Barty, also got a mention in Williams’ self-penned article as she revealed how hard she was finding it to walk away.

Barty stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 25 earlier this year.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” Williams wrote. “Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on. Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of my best friends, felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020.

“Praise these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at these crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.”

Read related topics:Ash Barty

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Categories
Sports

Serena Williams’ parting shot at Margaret Court, nod to Ash Barty in retirement announcement

Serena Williams sounded just the tiniest little bit salty as she reflected on likely finishing her tennis career with one less grand slam title than Australian legend Margaret Court.

Williams’ crusade to win an elusive 24th major title and draw level with Court has been a five-year saga that looks almost certain to end fruitlessly when she retires at this year’s US Open.

The 40-year-old American revealed her plans to end her career to focus on having another child in an article in Vogue Magazine published on Tuesday night (AEST).

Williams referenced Court twice in the piece, and while she was careful with her words left the impression she should be remembered as tennis’ greatest ever player.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.

Serena Williams waves goodbye to the crowd following her defeat against Naomi Osaka in the semis of the 2021 Australian Open – a match that would prove to be her last in Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where she fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

It was her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, some 14 months ago. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June.

“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’ I get that. It’s a good fantasy,” she wrote.

Margaret Court watches the women’s singles final at Wimbledon last month. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ash Barty and Serena Williams at the 2018 French Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”

Another Aussie champion, Ash Barty, also got a mention in Williams’ self-penned article as she revealed how hard she was finding it to walk away.

Barty stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 25 earlier this year.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” Williams wrote. “Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on. Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of my best friends, felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020.

“Praise these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at these crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.”

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Categories
Sports

Nick Kyrgios US Open prospects, odds, could he win? Media reaction to Washington ATP win

Nick Kyrgios’ career-best run of form has prompted an inevitable debate around one big question — is he a legitimate contender to win the US Open?

The 27-year-old Australian made history by winning both the singles and doubles titles at the ATP event in Washington, a month after he reached his first grand slam final at Wimbledon.

Kyrgios’ ranking has jumped to 37 and a strong performance at next week’s Montreal Masters could clinch him an all-important seeding at the year’s final grand slam in New York, starting later this month.

The enigmatic Aussie caught many by surprise with his run at the All England Club and how he’s since backed up that performance has prompted discussion about whether Kyrgios may now be emerging as the grand slam force many have always thought he could become.

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Kyrgios wins hearts with gift for fan | 00:37

Former world No.1 Andy Roddick is among those who believe the hype is real when it comes to Kyrgios’ prospects at Flushing Meadows, where Wimbledon champion Nick Kyrgios and injury-riddle Rafael Nadal may be absent.

“It’s a big, big deal to me that he goes into Washington, which is a pretty big event in the lead-up to the US Open,” Roddick told Steve Weissman of Tennis Channel on The Rich Eisen Show.

“Brutal conditions….To go through singles and doubles and not to tap out mentally or physically is a big, big sign.

“I think it puts him into the top two, maybe three, favorites for the US Open.”

Stuart Fraser, writing for The Times, said many of Kyrgios’ rivals will be relieved he is on course to be seeded at the US Open — removing him as a nightmare early round potential opponent — and agreed Kyrgios was up as a legitimate force in the singles.

“Whether Kyrgios is seeded or not at the US Open, he will be considered a contender after showing at Wimbledon that he has what it takes to come through several consecutive matches in the extended best-of-five-set format,” Fraser said.

“A potential second-round meeting with Medvedev in Montreal this week would help to determine where exactly he will sit on the bookmakers’ list.”

Kokk downs veteran Verdasco in Mexico | 00:26

Tennis Podcast co-host Matt Roberts said Kyrgios’ Washington performance showed he was likely to build on his success at Wimbledon, rather than it being a flash in the pan.

“I know it’s the first time he’s won a title this season but he has been playing very well whenever he’s played and I do think, I go back a lot to that quote he gave, kind of jokingly, straight after Wimbledon but it was serious at the same time, where he said that if he’d won Wimbledon he might have lost his motivation,” Roberts said.

“I actually think that losing that final, in a way, is probably the best thing in terms of prolonging his career. I think he’s got a little bit of a taste for it now in terms of wanting to see what happens when he properly dedicates himself and really does put his mind to it.

“I think he wants to find out how good he can get. A week like this, he played players that were kind of comfortable for him I think. He’s still only beaten Tsitisapas as a top 10 player in this run. We haven’t really seen him play those absolute top players I suppose.

“I’m interested to see next week when he plays potentially Daniil Medvedev in potentially his second match in Canada.

“That would be a fantastic test for both of them. it’s kind of tough to judge just exactly where Kyrgios’ level is but — an unmotivated Kyrgios is a dangerous player. A motivated Kyrgios is a different thing altogether.”

Co-host David Law warned, however, that history was not on Kyrgios’ side when it came to going all the way at slams.

“I think he is playing the most professional, consistent tennis of his career. Whether that means anything we’ll have to wait and see,” Law said.

“… I still think, best of five sets where you don’t have the help of the surface, he is going to malfunction.

“He is going to get in his own way. Somebody is going to hang on in a match, players peak at grand slams. He’s going to play against players who are playing their best stuff at that tournament and he is going to come apart at the seams, most likely, because that is the history.

RAGE aplenty as Kyrgios wins tie-break | 02:07

James Gray, writing for iSport, agreed despite acknolwedging the Kyrgios hype train “might never have had such a head of steam up as it currently does”.

“Entertainment has never been Kyrgios’s problem: attainment has,” Gray wrote.

“Have you finally got over that hump? There are certainly results in his 2022 record to suggest he might have done, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas (twice), Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev, but his record against the top 20 in 2022 remains six wins and seven losses. For that kind of form to equal victory in New York, Kyrgios will need some help from the draw.

“He is likely to get some as well, since his world ranking will now almost certainly earn him a seeded spot, protecting him from the world’s top 30 players in the opening two rounds. And circumstance – injury to Alexander Zverev and the unvaccinated status of Novak Djokovic – will protect him from two of the top 10 for the duration of the tournament.”

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Aussie John Millman slammed after Novak Djokovic tweet, weighs into US Open vaccination drama

Aussie tennis star John Millman has sparked a Twitter firestorm after weighing in on Novak Djokovic’s US Open status.

Millman took to Twitter to reveal he had pulled out of an ATP 250 event in Mexico after he tested positive to Covid-19.

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But he also took the opportunity to question why Djokovic was currently barred from entering the US to play in the tournament.

“I’m out with Covid. I was just in the (United) states and it didn’t really feel like too many were following any recommendations or guidelines there. Which is fine, but therefore I can’t see then why @DjokerNole can’t come and compete,” Millman tweeted.

Millman entered the conversation. Photo by Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia

Djokovic has revealed he is “preparing to compete” at the final grand slam of the season although currently his refusal to get vaccinated for Covid will see him barred from entry to the US.

Under current rules, all visitors to the United States must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

Since his Wimbledon victory, Djokovic has been hoping for a change in the rules in America, despite more than 200,000 new cases and 1057 deaths on August 3. However the average has been around 400 deaths a day, while more than 12,500 Americans died during July according to USA Today.

Millman was slammed for his post and returned an hour later to clarify his stance.

“Let me be clear. If everyone in the country was following guidelines then I’m all for them enforcing a vax entry policy. But from what I saw pretty much no one was, the tournament allows non vax citizens to play and only 30% have had a booster…,” he wrote.

Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg replied to the second tweet, posting: “Could be wrong, but I’m not sure there’s a non-vaxxed US citizen player whose ranking gets them anywhere near the US Open field currently? This remains an issue for one individual.

“And FWIW, media has to show proof of vaccination to get our credentials for US Open.”

Hours later, Millman replied: “Twitter is full of people having all types of opinions on different matters but when an athlete has an opinion on something that is not to do with their sport they are told to ‘stick to your sport’.”

Millman is currently ranked world No. 76 and has automatically qualified for the US Open.

Djokovic was named on the entry list for the grand slam late last month.

Novak is still hoping for US Open entry. Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFPSource: AFP

However, the US Open said it was just the process, not a hint about a possible exemption for the tournament which starts on August 29.

“Per the Grand Slam Rule Book, all eligible players are automatically entered into the men’s and women’s singles main draw fields based on ranking 42 days prior to the first Monday of the event,” a statement from the US read.

“The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the US government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-US citizens.”

Late last month, Djokovic took to Instagram to post a picture of him training, hinting he’d be ready to go, even if there was a late change to the US’ entry rules.

“I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to the US. Fingers crossed!,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram late last month.

There have been plenty of calls for Djokovic to be allowed into the country, including politicians and more than 46,000 people who have signed a petition calling on the authorities to allow a 21-time Slam winner into the country.

But Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic said he doesn’t believe the rules will change.

“There is always hope,” Ivanisevic told La Repubblica.

“Novak will do everything to be there, maybe he will get a special visa. But there are only two weeks.

And, personally, I have zero hope that [Joe] Biden will change the rules before the tournament starts.

“For me it is all nonsense and bull****.

If you are vaccinated but positive you can enter the United States. If you are not vaccinated but negative, you are banned. There is too much politics in sports.”

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