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It’s been two weeks, but we’re back with this week’s Culture Catchall. Summer meant I got to travel and do some traveling. One place I wish I had visited is Paris, where the Olympics are making waves with exciting premieres, stunning fashions, and impressive athletes. Celebrities like Queen Latifah, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé, who wowed everyone with her Welcome video for Team USAare also leaving their mark.
While some are enjoying the festivities, it hasn’t all been smiles for Coco Gauff. During her third-round singles match against Croatian athlete Donna Vekić, Gauff got into an argument heated discussion With referee Jaume Campistol. After a controversial decision by the linesman, Campistol awarded the point to Vekić, causing Gauff to burst into tears.
“I never argue with these calls, but he told me before I hit the ball,” Gauff protested. After her loss, she spoke about always having to defend herself on the court and expressed frustration with the recurring problems she has faced this year.
“I felt like he called it before I hit it, and I don’t think the umpire disagreed. I think he just thought it didn’t affect my swing, which I felt like it did. Usually they apologize afterward. It’s a little frustrating when apologies don’t help you once the match is over.”
Several people on social media pointed out the unfair decision and highlighted how black women are often treated differently than their white counterparts on the tennis court.
Gauff spoke to The Associated Press about the incident after the game.
“There were a lot of times this year where that happened to me, where I felt like I always had to defend myself on the court.”
In June, during a French Open semifinal loss to Iga Swiatek, Gauff did not agree Chair umpire Aurélie Tourte reversed the decision. Swiatek had hit a serve that had initially been called out just as Gauff was trying to return it, but the serve landed out. However, Tourte changed the call to “in,” awarding the point to Swiatek. Gauff told AP that tennis needs to invest in video replay technology like other sports.
“At this point, it’s almost ridiculous that we don’t have it,” Gauff said. “There are so many decisions that are made, and it’s a shame for a player to go back or (watch) online, and see that you were absolutely right. And it’s like: What does that get you in that moment?”
Incidents like this happen too often on the court, and race is not the only factor.
In an interview with celebrity.landChristiane Amanpour in 2022, Serena Williams Outstanding A clear double standard in tennis, stating that women are treated differently than men. This statement came in response to an incident in which Alexander Zverev Attacked Williams sat in the umpire’s chair after he and Marcelo Melo lost to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara at the Mexican Open. Williams said that if she had done the same, “I would probably be in jail.”
Sometimes as a black person, you feel like you are trapped when you want to stand up for what is right and most importantly, what is for yourself.
I think it is unfortunate that when one speaks up for oneself, one can be demonized and seen as a “problem,” while sometimes our peers are treated with care and sensitivity.
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