Tennis Today: Serena Williams cartoon stirs outrage, but paper sticks to its guns

Tennis Today

Shahida Jacobs
September 12, 2018

In Tennis Today, the Serena Williams cartoon and her US Open final behaviour continue to dominate the news.

What’s on the site
Novak Djokovic would probably have won a few more Grand Slams if he didn’t play in the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal era, but the 14-time major winner says the two actually pushed him to greater things.

While the ATP Tour is waiting on the #NextGen to step up at the majors, the WTA Tour has no such problems as their conveyor belt continues to churn out different Grand Slam winners.

Greg Rusedski has had his say on Serena Williams’ sexism claims and he is not happy with the American.

Meanwhile in Quebec City, top seed Aryna Sabalenka was stunned in the first round.

What’s in the news
We start off with the Herald Sun, who has defended Mark Knight’s controversial cartoon of Serena Williams by reprinting the drawing under the headline “Welcome to PC world”.

Knight told the Herald Sun: “The cartoon was just about Serena on the day having a tantrum.

“A few days beforehand I had actually drawn a cartoon of Australian Nick Kyrgios and his bad behaviour at the US Open, so I’m not targeting [Williams]. Serena is a champion.”

Damon Johnston, the Herald Sun editor, said the cartoon “rightly mocks poor behaviour by a tennis legend” adding that “Mr Knight has the full support of everyone [at the paper].”

And here is Knight defending his cartoon 9News.

The Guardian says the cartoon has sparked a “global furore”.

In The Telegraph, Allison Pearson says the American “is not just a bad loser – her dominance of tennis is over”. (Subscription)

The Sun’s Jane Moore calls “Serena Williams’ ‘fight for women’s rights’ at the US Open is actually just petulant posturing”

We really don’t know what this has to do with Patrick Mouratoglou’s coaching during the US Open final, but the Daily Mail says “Serena’s coach enjoyed a night out in Manhattan with celebs including Cara Delevingne and Cuba Gooding Jr just hours before he ‘coached’ her”.

Meanwhile, The Independent reports that “US Open organisers to review communication policies in wake of Serena Williams umpire controversy”.

Away from the Serena Williams row, The Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare says we should “be wary of declaring Novak Djokovic a ‘GOAT contender’ just yet – only a few months ago he was ‘finished'”. (Subscription).

Now for something different from Press Association Sport, via the Bournemouth Echo, Tim Henman fears slow courts are making game less exciting.

What’s on social media
Who is the strongest player on the ATP Tour?