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BY MEGAN NOE
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A reigning Wimbledon champ made the long walk across the All England Tennis Club to Court 2 for her second round match Thursday-- a snub she’s calling sexism.
Serena Williams defeated Romanian Simona Halep in three sets on the court. But in post-game interviews, The LA Times reports the reigning ladies single champion suggests she and her sister have been unfairly targeted by Wimbledon officials.
“Serena was asked, ‘You and Venus almost look at it as an insult that you're not automatically put on Centre, Court 1 like [Novak] Djokovic, [Rafael] Nadal?’
‘Yeah,’ Serena said. ‘They're never moved across. Actually Venus and I have won more Wimbledons together than a lot of the players... I don't make it a big issue. I think at some point I should.’”
Wimbledon officials were quick to deny the claims, telling The Telegraph it was a treat for fans on Court 2.
“Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins denied there was any favouritism given to any player, particularly the Williams sisters. ‘There is a complex system of scheduling that takes into account about 29 different factors,’ he said. ‘No player is treated with any favour.’”
What’s wrong with Court 2? The old Court 2 was known as the “Graveyard of Champions,” where several high-profile players lost over the years. Even if the sisters aren’t superstitious, Bloomberg reports the new Court 2 has its downfalls as well.
“[It’s] a small show court stuck in a far corner of the Wimbledon complex. It seats about 4,000 people, almost 10,000 less than Centre Court.”
But maybe it wasn’t sexism-- a Wall Street Journal blogger makes a logistical point.
“Williams, and all women players, tend to spend less time on Centre Court or Court 1 because the tournament schedules three matches per court on those courts. To ensure the program lasts a full day, it usually schedules two men’s matches and one women’s match per court.”
Williams next faces Maria Kirilenko-- presumably on Centre or Court One.
Transcript by Newsy.
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