From “Child’s play” to “Party crasher”: Venus Williams, racism and professional women’s tennis

• DOI: 10.4324/9780203463543-9
• Publication Date: 2002-09-11
• Authors: Nancy Spencer
• Keywords: Curiosity; Stadium

In September 1997, Venus Williams advanced to the finals of US Open to become first unseeded woman finalist in era tennis. Despite losing top-seeded Martina Hingis, Venus’ advance could not have been more perfect if it were scripted. It was “the right moment, according to fate. An African-American teenager with a game blooming just time for the dedication Arthur Ashe Stadium year Jackie Robinson’s remembrance and Tiger Woods’ Masters” (Lopresti 1997: 12C). The women’s final “drew near-sellout 21,566 at new Ashe Stadium, overseers tour” not have happier (Smith, 1997a, p. 2C). Tennis had seemingly “found its Woods. Venus Williams, no longer curiosity or teen pumped up by hype, emerged as a legitimate claimant future tennis” (‘‘Venus rising Open,” 1997, 7B).