Serena: She Cheated!

There was a bit of controversy during a round 3 match in the French Open between Serena Williams and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. The AP gives the account:

At 2-2 in the first set, Williams double-faulted to give a break point to Martinez Sanchez, a Spaniard who is ranked 43rd and never has reached the fourth round at a major. On the next point, Martinez Sanchez raced to the net behind a drop shot that brought Williams forward, too. Williams ran up and smacked a backhand right at Martinez Sanchez.

In what seemed to be an effort to protect herself, as much as to try to hit a volley, the left-handed Martinez Sanchez raised her racket, quick as could be. The ball ricocheted back—off her racket? off her arm? off both?—and past Williams. The point was awarded to Martinez Sanchez, giving her the game.

NBC, which televised the match, showed The Associated Press replays in which the ball appears to glance first off Martinez Sanchez’s right forearm, then off her racket, before going over the net. Tennis rules say if a ball touches a player, the point is lost.



The ball clearly hit off Martinez Sanchez. Although the ball hit her, she didn't admit it to the judge and took the point.

Fessing up to something that'll make you lose a point sounds crazy to me. Martinez Sanchez is the 43rd ranked player in the world and she is facing the 2nd ranked and an all-time great. I'm taking the points any way I can. Being 100% honest is not my number 1 concern when I'm trying to win a sports match.

That's why I can respect NBA players who can get away with illegal plays on defense, i.e. Malik Rose's chair pull with a player backing him down. Countless times, Rose would brace an offensive player, then step aside while tugging their shorts; causing them to travel. Brilliant! Or Bruce Bowen's never ending array of potentially dirty plays.

The point is that a player has the right to try almost anything to gain an advantage, as long as it is within the time of play.

I was watching the match with my Dad yesterday and he had the completely opposite reaction than I had. My Dad was an excellent amateur tennis player -- the trophies litter the house -- and he cited an unspoken code of ethics on the court. He wanted Martinez Sanchez to relinquish the point. He added that the instance can't be accurately related to team sports, because tennis is, of course, individual.

I get his argument, but I just can't see why anyone would give up a point against any opponent, let alone one of the best ever. I told my Dad that if I ever got a point on Rafael Nadal, no matter how I got it, I would put it on my résumé.

Either way, Serena ended up winning the match, but not after a tight end to the 3rd set.


--My reaction to Nadal losing in the 4th round of the French: "Holy crap..."


--Max Caster