Former World No.1 Venus Williams became the latest tennis celebrity to join the World TeamTennis 2020 event this year. (Getty Images)
Venus Williams shut down a reporter at a recent press conference in the wake of ‘the Naomi Osaka controversy’
Williams went in hard after being asked by a reporter on how she deals with press conferences.
Just two days ago, World No.2 Naomi Osaka pulled out of the 2021 French Open following a denial to attend any press conference at the Roland Garros.
After her first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig, Osaka didn’t attend the press conference as told, and was slapped with a fine of $15000.
A day later she announced that she was pulling out of the French Open, and hoped that the attention shifts back to the courts. She also revealed in the statement that she had been suffering from bouts of depression since the 2018 US Open.
In the wake of this, Williams was asked by a reporter at a French Open 2021 presser, about how she dealt with press conferences.
The question didn’t sit well with Williams, as she decided to calmly give it back.
Williams replied:
“For me personally, how I deal with it was that I know every single person asking me a question can’t play as well as I can, and never will. So, no matter what you say or what your write, you’ll never light a candle to me. So, that’s how I deal with it. But each person deals with it differently.” [via espnW]
Venus Williams’ French Open 2021 singles campaign came to an end in the very first round. The former World No.1 lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).
The 40-year old, however, still has her doubles match coming up. She is paired alongside fellow American, teenage sensation Coco Gauff.
The pair are set to take on Zheng Saisai and Ellen Perez today in the first round of their campaign.
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