In a world where male characteristics are often perceived as superior, tennis reflects this trend. Diane from Women Who Serve guides us through the intricate realm of gender perceptions in this sport. By shedding light on moments where even WTA players show a preference for men’s tennis, we uncover the deep-seated social constructs shaping these perspectives. Join us as we delve into this complex topic, challenging traditional assumptions in the world of tennis.
In 2022, young American WTA player Hailey Baptiste, in an interview in Charleston, told Pam Shriver that every shot in tennis was executed better by ATP players. (She also revealed that she’d named her pet after one of the ATP’s kings of sexism–a man who was given a pass throughout his career for that sexism.) No one noticed. Well, I did, and I reported on it, but Baptiste was/is hardly a tennis household name.
Now world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that she prefers to watch men’s tennis; she stated that there was more strategy in the men’s game and that she finds it more interesting to watch. Now three (so far) camps have formed on X: those who think that Sabalenka has betrayed the WTA, those who think that it’s ridiculous to ever watch women’s tennis, and those who think that…
