Serena Williams, just shut down an important man who informed us that male tennis players paved the way for women to do nothing and enjoy the fruits of man labor.
South African tournament director Raymond Moore made these choice comments on Sunday the night before the singles finals at the BNP Paribas Open. Reportedly, he told multiple reporters why female tennis players should be feeling seriously #blessed that famous male tennis players helpfully made their success possible.
Here are his wishes regarding reincarnation:
“In my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA [Women’s Tennis Association], because they ride on the coattails of the men. They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”
Do you hear that? They REALLY have? The Williams sisters wouldn’t even be here if not for Roger and Rafa, so they should quickly assume a thankful position on their knees for these lucky stars in their lives.
Enter sportswoman Serena Williams, 21-time grand slam winner with this swift response, which packed the appropriate combination of good will toward all men and factual error corrections in a press conference:
“I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that. I think Venus, myself, a number of players — if I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister — I couldn’t even bring up that number. So I don’t think that is a very accurate statement. I think there are a lot of women out there who are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men out there who are exciting to watch. I think it definitely goes both ways.”
Remember when the women’s final scored higher than the men’s? Proof right here. Leave it to one of the world’s most currently successful athletes who battled a ton of hatred and also looks quite natural on a throne, to add this:
“I’m sorry, did Roger play in that final? Or Rafa, or any man, play in that final that was sold out before the men’s final? I think not.”
Note that she’s saying “I’m sorry,” in a sarcastic tone, just in case that didn’t register. But thanks for letting us know who isn’t and is watchable, guy. We’ll just leave this picture here because of how appropriate it is for this moment.
Update: Moore has since issued an apology explaining he’s truly sorry with a shout out to Serena and Victora.
[Twitter/CNN]