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Tennis fans erupt after Serena Williams tweet backfires brutally

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Serena Williams, pictured here during her win over Tsvetana Pironkova at the US Open.
Serena Williams reacts during her match with Tsvetana Pironkova at the US Open. Image: AAP

A social media user has been left with egg on her face after calling out a tennis journalist for his ‘sexist’ treatment of Serena Williams.

The only problem? It wasn’t the least bit sexist.

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The bizarre saga started when Portuguese journalist Jose Morgado tweeted a wrap of Serena’s win over Tsvetana Pironkova in the US Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.

“Serena Williams plays two great sets, comes back from a set and break down to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and reach a 14th #USOpen semi-final,” Morgado wrote on Twitter.

“39th Grand Slam semi-final as well. What a run Tsveti had … Williams vs Azarenka or Mertens tomorrow.”

But the completely normal tweet didn’t sit well with Florida woman Kelly, who took exception to Morgado’s use of the words “break down”.

“Kinda sexist with saying she had a break down,” Kelly commented on the tweet.

“Do you talk about men athletes in this manner?”

Kelly's response to Jose Morgado, pictured here on Twitter.
Kelly's response to Jose Morgado went very wrong. Image: Twitter

Morgado went to the extraordinary step of reposting Kelly’s comment for all of his followers, even after she deleted it.

“I receive a lot of replies, but this one was the best of the day (so far),” he wrote.

“She came back from a SET and a BREAK (of serve) down.

“It would be sexist if men didn’t come back from set & break disadvantages day in, day out.”

Needless to say, Morgado’s followers also couldn’t believe Kelly’s tweet.

Serena and Azarenka in US Open showdown

Serena will face fellow former World No.1 and friend Victoria Azarenka for a spot in the US Open final after the two tennis mums won through to the last four in contrasting fashion.

Williams come out on top against another mother, rallying back from a set and a break down to defeat Pironkova 4-6 6-3 6-2.

A relaxed and confident Azarenka crushed 16th-seeded Elise Mertens 6-1 6-0 to return to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2013.

With no fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Belarusian amused herself as she smiled and bobbed her head along to music being played during changeovers.

The two-times Australian Open champion fired 21 winners to dominate the Mertens in their first career meeting in a singles match.

Serena Williams and Tsvetana Pironkova, pictured here after their quarter-final clash at the US Open.
Serena Williams and Tsvetana Pironkova tap racquets after their quarter-final clash at the US Open. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The 31-year-old Azarenka didn't let her foot off the gas in the second, running Mertens around the court and sealing the win when the Belgian dumped a backhand into the net on match point.

“Can it get any better? For me it can't,” Azarenka said about her looming mach against Williams.

“I'm so excited about this. It's an amazing opportunity to play against a champion, somebody who I respect a lot, who is my friend.”

It was a much tougher challenge for Williams against Pironkova, who on one point hit a return of serve left-handed and served 20 aces for the match - her most in a match in eight years.

“It's not how you start, it's how you finish, right?” Williams said.

The unseeded Pironkova doesn't even appear in the WTA rankings at all and played with a protected ranking - this was her first tournament of any sort in more than three years, because she left the tour to become a mother.

“It's unbelievable,” Williams said about Pironkova's impressive return to competition.

“Wow. I couldn't even do that.”

with AAP