The uncouth treatment that New York tennis fans gave Anett Kontaveit at the Arthur Ashe stadium on August 31 is not only unforgivable but nothing less than arrogant.
I watched the entire match on Eurosport live and was shocked that a crowd of 30+ thousand was able to stay as silent as a single mouse each time that Anett scored an ace. The incredible roar that went up each time that Anett committed an error or lost a point to Serena was equally appalling.
Absolutely no sign of sportsmanship or signs of a love for the game by that crowd.
I’m convinced that former American tennis stars who were present at last night’s event were very embarrassed about the depths to which tennis has sunk.
During today’s interview with ERR, Anett had difficulties keeping back the tears… absolutely NOT because she (narrowly) lost to Serena, but because she had never encountered such an inhumane crowd of spectators.
In the pre-game interview she was bubbly and as happy as anything to be able to play with another tennis champion.
Funny, I don’t recall that New Yorkers are arrogant in general… A puzzle to me.
Erwin Pari
This opinion was also shared by New York Times sports correspondent David Waldstein in his Sept. 1 article “It was Anett Kontaveit Against Serena Williams, and the Crowd”. – VES)
