INDIAN WELLS, California—Greetings from sunny, Indian Wells, California.
It’s one day before the BNP Paribas (Par-ee-ba), Open kicks off, and I’ve got tennis on the brain. I’m itching to watch the Williams sisters slam their opponents into the…oh, wait. They’re not here.
Disappointed? Definitely. The BNP Paribas Open (formerly the Pacific Life Open) has brought out the world’s top male and female players for over 30 years, and every year, fans fill up all 16,100 seats. So when the No. 1 female player in the world misses this tournament without citing an injury, it raises a few eyebrows. When her No. 5-ranked sister follows suit, everyone takes notice. Granted, this is nothing new –- the Williams sisters have skipped this tournament for the past eight years now.
Since 2001, the details surrounding Venus and Serena’s choice to not play Indian Wells have been a bit sketchy. Reports have alleged that they, along with their father Richard, were victims of racial discrimination from hecklers in the crowd, after Venus pulled out of her semi-final match against Serena, just prior to stepping onto the court.
Heckling and general bad-mouthing from the crowd continued when Serena accepted the winner’s trophy. Eight years later, the sisters are still united in their stance to not play Indian Wells ever again. Whether you agree or disagree with their decision, you can’t help but respect their unwavering commitment to their values.
Nevertheless, the WTA has put new regulations in place for the 2009 Roadmap, which could potentially pose a problem for the Williams sisters. The new rule states that a top-10 player who misses a Premier/mandatory tournament will not receive any rankings points and could face a potential fine and a suspension for two subsequent tournaments. Unless of course, a top-10 player decides to skip a mandatory tournament anyway.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Call it a caveat (or a loophole) in the WTA’s rule book: If a top-10 player fails to compete in a Premier/mandatory tournament, they can avoid any penalties by making a promotional appearance to fulfill their tournament obligation. This will allow the Williams sisters to skip the BNP Paribas Open without skipping a step, and maintain their eligibility for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
There are two options for Venus and Serena if they want to avoid any penalty:
Option 1: Attend the BNP Paribas Open and make a promotional appearance on a specific date chosen by the WTA. Total time commitment: 3 hours or 4 activities.
They would not be required to perform promotional activities for more than a single day.
Option 2: Make a promotional appearance on one of three dates outside of the tournament, within 125 miles of the BNP Paribas Open. The dates are chosen by the tour in consultation with the tournament, and at least one of the dates will be during the week before the BNP Paribas Open—next year.
According to Andrew Walker, spokesperson for the WTA, “Venus and Serena have indicated to the tour that they intend to fulfill the requirements under our rules in order to avoid suspension.” No word yet on the exact date/location of their promotional appearances.
The Williams sisters’ absence here at Indian Wells is good news for players like Dinara Safina, who was denied the 2009 Australian Open title, losing in the final to Serena Williams. Other thankful players might include Maria Sharapova, who could have faced the Williams sisters in a heated doubles match.
As for the rest of us, we’ll just have to wait a few weeks to see the Williams sisters smash their opponents into…well, the stratosphere.
Paula Vergara is an experienced tennis journalist, who has worked as a regular contributor to On the Baseline Tennis News, USTA New England Magazine, and New England Sports Magazine. To view her work, visit her blog at www.paula-vergara.blogspot.com.
Paula Vergara is an experienced tennis journalist, who has worked as a regular contributor to On the Baseline Tennis News, USTA New England Magazine, and New England Sports Magazine. To view her work, visit her blog at www.paula-vergara.blogspot.com.
On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 BNP Paribas Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
Safina did not make the US Open final. Serena beat Jankovic in the US Open final.
Tnewser,
Thanks for pointing out that correction. The article has been updated.
Thanks for the correction. That’s what I get for trying to write while traveling…
great article…can’t really blame them and I am amazed that the hecklers were not procecuted. Poor form.
The Williams’s ire is really aimed at the tourney officials who did virtually nothing to quiet the crowd during the announcement at the aborted semi, the final or trophy presentation.
They–the tourney officials–will have to live with the knowledge that the failure to perform the simplest of tennis etiquette policing has cost them financially and [athletics wise] artistically.
Sorry to read that the William Sister will compete in this touramentI am in hoipes that they are above the jeers and garbage fom the side lines. Ladies, what ever the reasons other than injuries or illness, Please get back on the court and continue to show the Tennis world what you aare and demostrate your great talents
The mistake made when it came to Indian Wells was not the incident of that day, it was the incident that followed it. The tournament could have apologized publicly and committed some thousands of dollars to promote racial tolerance or promote tennis in poor and minority neighborhood.
Pushing for a fine, loss in ranking, loss of finances as a way to punish or make the Williams play in the tournament was even more disastrous. I am sure WTA understood better which is why they placed the loopholes in the books. I am sure NIKE and the other PROMOTERS would have riped them apart like Clothes if they have not.
As we all know, the Williams are like Tiger Woods…they own the WTA tour, and the WTA needs them more than they need the tour. Ask me why? Because they are already planning their after-Tour fashion industry. Remember all those criticism when they decided to forgo tennis for a while…well guess what, they did and came back to kick *** again Lol. I wonder how much the ratings have changed ever since.
Even Indian Wells is any lesson, dont mess around with the Williams lol. No one will dare mess around with Tiger Woods.