Serena Williams has drawn criticism after opting not to attend her mandatory media conference following a first-round singles defeat at Wimbledon, with one commentator accusing the tennis great of showing striking arrogance.
Williams, 44, was beaten in three sets by Australia’s Maya Joint on Centre Court, where the crowd still rose to applaud her as she made her exit.
The warm reception inside the stadium was followed by a cooler response from some observers after Williams declined to face reporters in the customary post-match press conference.
Wimbledon instead issued a statement on her behalf, in which Williams reflected on the occasion, saying, “It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here.
“The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.”
Tennis commentator Pav Gill was among those unimpressed, posting a series of reactions on X, including: “Rules are rules… unless you are Serena Williams.”
Serena Williams upset some fans and commentators by skipping the mandatory press conference after her first-round singles loss at Wimbledon
Commentator Pav Gill criticised the American’s absence and said her arrogance “is something else”
Some fans pointed out that Williams didn’t publicly congratulate her opponent Maya Joint as a result of skipping the presser
‘Serena wouldn’t have even stepped onto the court if she thought she couldn’t win. I think she’s hurt by her performance and that’s the real reason she’s missed the post-match conference.
‘Williams has been looking good in practice but you simply can’t compare practice to matches.
‘I’m sorry but the arrogance of Serena is something else.
‘@Wimbledon gave her a main draw singles and doubles wildcard worth almost £100,000 [$132,000] combined and she can’t even do the mandatory post-match press conference?
‘She’s played Wimbledon!!’
Gill’s fellow commentator Simon Cambers was also shocked by Williams’ refusal.
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‘Impressed at how hard @serenawilliams fought tonight. Not impressed that she refused to do her obligatory media conference,’ he wrote.
‘Having been given a wildcard by @Wimbledon, that’s not on.’
Williams was accused of ‘playing’ Wimbledon after the tournament granted her wildcard entries for the women’s singles and doubles
Pictured: Commentator Simon Cambers also blasted the grand slam champion
Just before Williams’ match, the star who beat her in a huge first-round boilover in 2022, Harmony Tan (pictured) claimed the superstar blocked her on Instagram straight afterwards
Many tennis fans agreed with Gill and Cambers, leaving comments like, ‘No one is surprised at her lack of grace and perfunctory, arm’s-length handshake,’ and, ‘She has always wanted everything on her terms.’
Other fans pointed out that Williams’ absence from the press conference meant she didn’t publicly congratulate Joint or recognise the quality of the match the 20-year-old played.
‘As pained as she was by her own performance it would have equally distressed her to give her opponent any credit,’ one wrote.
Williams was also blasted by a former opponent just before she played Joint.
Harmony Tan, who beat the icon in a huge upset in the first round of the singles at Wimbledon in 2022, claimed the American cut her off on social media after the match.
‘So 4 years ago after the handshake, she blocked me also on Instagram, btw,’ Tan posted on Instagram, along with laughing emojis.
Tan failed to make the main draw at Wimbledon this year.
Before this year’s tournament began, Tan said she wanted a rematch with Williams at the All England Club.
‘She’s a legend, you know?’ Tan said.
‘She can come back everywhere. I hope I can qualify and maybe play Serena for the first round.’
