It is Official: Tyra Banks Hates Black Gay Men And Black Women

I can honestly say I will no longer watch America’s Next Top Model. I am disgusted with the hypocrisy, homophobia, double standards, racism, misandry, and sexism of the program. Tyra Banks preaches to young black women to love themselves. How can anyone like Tyra Banks, she is so plastic and fake?

On Tyra’s talk show and ANTM we see Tyra prancing around with her fake contact lenses, and shoulder length weaves.I am not suggesting black women cannot wear weaves or perm their hair. Black women have a right to style their hair anyway they want. I guess for some females they want to try new hairstyles and that’s fair.Nobody wants to wear the same hairstyle all the damn time that’s boring and sometimes change is a good thing. After all, white women and other women of colour wear hair extensions, braids, and weaves too.

However, has anyone ever seen Tyra without her long weave? When have we ever seen girlfriend rock an afro, or twists, or braids? Can you imagine Tyra Banks without her Eurocentric appearance? Tyra has a European appearance with her light skin, contacts, and long weave is the image of blackness Hollywood says is palatable.

Would Tyra be popular with whites and blacks if she actually tried to not look and act so white? Its a fair question. Could it be if Tyra didn’t have her fake weave and rocked an afro the TV ratings would drop? If Tyra had a more Afrocentric appearance would this shock and turn off black and white television viewers and CW Network executives?

In the summer of 2007 a white Glamour Magazine editor made a racist and sexist statement at an industry meeting , she said she didn’t like seeing black women with natural hairstyles. You know black women that don’t wear hair extensions, perms, weaves, and straight hair. The white female executive from Glamour Magazine said braids, twists, and afros are a “no no” in a corporate environment.

Recently, Glamour Magazine had a damage control session in a closed meeting with a group of black women. Glamour Magazine clearly has a very good public relations team because they want the controversy to disappear. However, my dear readers we cannot let the Glamour Magazine episode vanish. We must pay attention to the messages society is transmitting through culture, hair, and language. We are all lectured in some way to conform to the representation of whiteness.

Trya Banks is following the same philosophy she is a pretentious hypocrite. Tyra preaches to young black women about loving themselves yet she embraces and conforms to the image of whiteness. Whiteness is the only representation that sells in the American fashion industry. Black women are encouraged through racist imagery such advertisements, magazines, television, product placements, and black celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles and Tyra Banks to act and look white.

Doesn’t anyone wonder why Tyra always wears the same long blonde or brown weave? Why does Beyonce wear the same blonde lace front wig all the damn time? Whiteness is the only acceptable image on television and the closer black women are to whiteness the more palatable they become. Whiteness is also the global standard of beauty that everyone is judged against. My perspective is that Tyra is actually a very negative influence on young black women. Is it okay for black women to be black on TV? Can black women ever be presented as being nice, intelligent, caring, young women that are not termagants?

I remember when Tyra admonished Danielle during one cycle about her country accent. Tyra’s attitude was disgusting, pernicious, and disgraceful. I understand the fact that Tyra is supposed to give the girls advice. I just have this feeling that Tyra was cognizant of the fact white America was “watching her”.

The great African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois created the term “double consciousness” and the term was included in his powerful collection of essays called “The Souls Of Black Folk”. Its amazing that Du Bois analogy was created over one hundred years ago and it is still valid and makes perfect sense. Du Bois analogy refers to the fact black people we are conscious that we live in separate spheres. Tyra was criticizing Danielle because America’s Next Top Model is in the public domain on television for the world to watch. Tyra didn’t want a dark skinned black girl with a country accent to “mess up” her product.

Tyra wanted Danielle to not only speak “proper English” she also wanted Danielle to “act white” to not upset the white television audience. Black people we are well aware of the fact the white lens is constantly watching us. Blacks we become “perceptive” of the white gaze and in many ways we have to conform to function in society. Now why couldn’t Danielle speak with her country accent? Was Danielle’s accent really too hard to understand? Or was it because Tyra didn’t want to be reminded of “blackness” and she didn’t want her “brand” to be “tainted” and viewed as “too black”?

Tyra Banks has an image of being “colourless” she’s the light skinned young “colourless” black woman that white North America loves. Tyra’s kind of black but not too black she’s tries her best to be as boring as oatmeal. Tyra’s not political either she’s not really interested in black issues, she chooses to ignore race because she wants to make money.

Tyra is “aware” that the Eurocentric lens was paying close attention to the way she interacts with the black girls. Trya tries too hard to be “hands off” with the black girls she reminds me of Oprah. Tyra has no respect for other black women. Oprah has changed she used to be about black women’s issues but now Oprah is basically a white woman. Oprah is a shrewd business woman she has to be as white as possible in order to obtain white female acceptance. Its a a tricky balance the game Tyra and Oprah are playing they have to “act white” yet also distance themselves from black women’s issues. If you’ve been paying attention to both Tyra and Oprah’s shows they rarely discuss important issues that relates specifically to black women. Both Tyra and Oprah will lie to the public and say they are all about reaching “all women”.

People need to realize Oprah and Tyra’s gimmick is to use the word “all women” they really should just be honest and say they want to reach the “white female demographic.” Audre Lorde wrote in her groundbreaking book “Sister Outsider” there is no “global sisterhood” between white women and black women.

I mean why can’t they just be honest? Oprah and Tyra cannot appear to be “too black”. I mean can you imagine? Its like give me a break please. The only women Oprah and Tyra are interested in reaching are the white middle and upper class women with disposable income. Just be real ladies we undestand its just “business.”

Has anyone ever watched the Oprah show lately? Tyra’s talk show is very similar she’s copying the Oprah blueprint by acting so white. Notice in the audience you see a sea of white faces on both Tyra and Oprah’s television shows. Has anyone ever wondered why? Its all due to market research and “branding” the product. Oprah and Tyra will lie and say that its just a coincidence that so many white women are in the show’s audience. I’m not buying that for a second. Oprah is a shrewd businesswoman and Oprah knows the more white women in the audience the more likely white women will tune in to watch. It just makes practical business sense.

Tyra and Oprah realize their target audience is white women and not black women. Yet the black media consistently present Oprah and Tyra as “groundbreaking” black females when they both conform to the representation of whiteness. Tyra and Oprah will never do anything to “upset” the white female demographic because they want to make as much money as possible off of white women. Oprah and Tyra have to sell products, advertising space, and to continue to generate revenue through the white female demographic. Tyra is never going to “rock the boat” and upset the white girls. Tyra may criticize the white girls but she is never ever cruel to them. The way Tyra bashes and admonishes the black girls I sense Tyra has internalized racism issues. Maybe Tyra hates being black? Maybe the problem is really Tyra?

I think Tyra is just jealous of the black girls because they are more attractive. Maybe Tyra just hates dark skinned black women? After all, does anyone remember the episode of Tyra’s show and Naomi Campbell was on? Tyra acted like a scared kitten. Tyra wasn’t just preaching to Danielle to speak with a so called “proper” American accent. Tyra was screeching at Danielle to conform to white middle class American standards of respectability. Make no mistake Tyra wasn’t just telling Danielle she had to speak “proper” to succeed in modelling. Tyra was letting Danielle know that she was embarrassing her and her “brand” in front of the white American audience. Isn’t being black good enough? Shouldn’t Tyra have told Danielle that blackness is beautiful? Tyra has a clear disgust for any image of blackness. Tyra runs in the opposite direction of anything relating to black culture. Tyra is a termagant, I don’t know how people can stand her? Tyra is hardest on all the black girls because she knows white viewers will complain and say that she’s “favouring” the blacks.

Tyra also has an intense hatred for other black women its so obvious. Tyra has lashed out at Bree, Danielle, and this season Ebony. I can honestly say Bree, Danielle, and Ebony are more beautiful on the inside and out then the so called supermodel Tyra Banks. When Ebony said she didn’t want to be on the program anymore Tyra called Ebony “a quitter”. Tyra was shocked that a contestant actually told her that her TV show was whack. Maybe, just maybe, the reason Ebony wanted to leave the show was because she couldn’t handle being around Tyra Banks since she’s such a mean spirited vindictive person. Ebony actually arrived at her own decision that she didn’t want to be a model. Did you see Ebony run out the room? Girlfriend, ran like the wind to get away from the Medusa Tyra Banks.

Another thing I resent about America’s Next Top Model is the way the show deals with homosexuality. Homosexuality is a freak side show on America’s Next Top Model its a total joke. I remember there was a beautiful lesbian on the program her name was Kim and the lesbophobia on the show was incredible. I recall Jay Manuel telling Kim to be more “feminine” I wanted to smack him.

The part of the program I find most offensive is way the gay men of colour are framed. Gay men of colour on America’s Next Top Model are the “fairy godmothers”. Jay Manuel and Miss Jay sprinkle their “fairy wisdom” on the naive young heterosexual girls on how to be a model. So basically you have two gay black men telling women how to act more “feminine”. Isn’t that kind of sexist and homophobic? Why didn’t Tyra hire female consultants to teach the girls on how to act like a model? Wouldn’t that make more sense? The gay men teaching the girls to twirl and move their hips on the runway may seem like “entertainment” but its actually an abhorrent form of homophobia. I think the reason Jay Manuel and Miss Jay were hired was because they are the humour segment of the show. People are privately laughing in their homes “look at those two black fags.” Let’s be honest and real here we know what people say behind closed doors.

I am disgusted with the stereotypes of gay men of colour because we are so marginalized. Yes, I am cognizant of the fact gay men are involved in the fashion industry. However, not every gay man talks with a lisp, twirls around, and walks with a limp wrist.

A good friend of mine we have a constant joke because I don’t care about fashion. I mean obviously I wear men’s clothing its important for a man to have a positive image of himself . The way a man will dress says a lot about a man’s personality and self image. I just feel like the image of gay black men on television is very negative. The last positive image of a black gay male on mainstream television was Carter on Spin City. I loved Carter because I could identify with him. Carter was definitely gay but he wasn’t a stereotype he wasn’t a queen. Carter dressed in men’s clothing, he liked sports, and he also liked guys.

My friend says I am different in a way compared to some gay men because I have absolutely no interest in fashion. I don’t read fashion magazines to find out the latest trends in men’s fashion. I don’t pluck my eyebrows, I don’t wear makeup, or lipstick, I don’t wear nail polish. I understand that there are drag queens they are an integral part of the queer black family. A lot of drag queens are involved with charity work and other community programs to support the gay black community.

I am not suggesting that black gay men cannot perform in drag if they want to. If this is Miss Jay’s real personality then that’s his personal business. I am only arguing why does this fairy godmother stereotype have to be the only representation of gay black men on television?

I like to wear nice suits, dress pants, tie, or sweater, or blazer if I am going to attend an important event. I don’t watch Fashion Television, sorry Vogue is not a bible it doesn’t interest me. I am not suggesting there aren’t gay men that are not effeminate because there are. I can even be effervescent at times I can admit that. I am not a macho man either but why does Miss Jay and Jay Manuel have to be so feminine?

However, I am aware of the fact people are actually “laughing” at Miss Jay and Jay Manuel they are the circus clowns. Jay Manuel and Miss Jay are the bizarre entertainment while Tyra Banks is ringmaster of the show. Miss Jay and Jay Manuel also have to be “sassy” and make shocking jokes so all the girls will giggle and laugh. Yet the truth for Miss Jay and Jay Manuel the television audience are “laughing at them” not “with them”. People don’t realize Miss Jay and Jay Manuel are caricatures. Perhaps Miss Jay and Jay Manuel are cognizant of this? I guess all those queens care about is cashing their next pay cheque?

I also think there is a subversive element of homophobia to the program. Miss Jay and Jay Manuel are extreme stereotypes of gay men of colour. Its the pathetic, homophobic, racist, and sexist imagery of gay black men that sells. Is it necessary for Miss Jay and Jay Manuel to be such cardboard cut out stereotypes? Miss Jay prances around in women’s makeup, wears women’s clothing, and high heeled shoes. Miss Jay looks like a complete joke.

One argument is that this is just the way Miss Jay true personality. However, in the eyes of the black community and mainstream society people think “all” gay black men act like this. I find the homophobic imagery of Miss Jay sashaying across the catwalk and twirling around a bit unsettling.

The real issue I have with Miss Jay and Jay Manuel is that there is no diversity. I am not just focusing on America’s Top Model my argument is also about television in general. Where are the regular gay black men that I can recognize? Where are the gay black men that wear regular men’s clothing you know like the rest of us? I think this is the reason I miss Noah’s Arc so much. Why isn’t Noah’s Arc on the CW Network? The CW Network is the only TV channel that broadcast black television anyways.

I cannot believe Jay Manuel is a Canadian! Jay Manuel has to be one of the worst exports from Toronto Canada ever he has such a bad negative attitude. Jay Manuel always acts so bitchy and he’s very vindictive and mean spirited. I don’t like the image he presents on television. I don’t know if the writers of America’s Next Top Model tell Jay Manuel to act like this but he’s ugly on the inside and out.

Gay men of colour we are stereotyped as limp wristed sissies that wear women clothing or bitchy queens like Jay Manuel. Sorry, not all gay men of colour act like Miss Jay or Jay Manuel. No I am not a stone cold butch. I am not some S&M daddy but I like to wear baseball caps, I watch sports, I drink beer, and I don’t wear women’s clothing. Where are the gay black men that are not hairdressers, fashion stylists, effeminate photographers, or limp wristed queens? I guess for television rating the CW Network feels the need to marginalize gay men of colour and reduce us to sexist, misandrist, and racist stereotypes.

Jay Manuel I guess is the antidote to Miss Jay, he’s supposed to be the more butch gay man of colour. I just find Jay Manuel to be even more vulgar and worse then Miss Jay. Miss Jay seems to really care about the girls he wants them to succeed. Perhaps this is just a writing device? Maybe its just a gimmick the “hook” to attract an audience to see the next outrageous thing the two gay men will do next?

The reality television writers have to give Jay Manuel and Miss Jay distinctive personalities for the program to attract viewers. I guess for the CW Network they cannot have two gay men of colour that are actually “nice” people. Nice gay men are not entertaining for television. One gay black man has to be the stereotypical fag and the other has to be the annoying bitchy sea hag.

Jay Manuel comes across as a shrew no wonder the girls cry on the show because he’s such a blood thirsty monster. I just think America’s Top Model is such a disservice to black women and gay black men. Why are black women and black gay men stereotyped to the extreme on America’s Next Top Model?

Tyra is the executive producer of the program she has no excuses. Tyra claims she’s involved with the development and production of the show. Tyra and the CW Network will do anything to make money. I guess all Tyra Banks cares about is stereotyping black women as having haughty attitudes, and gay black men we are all limp wristed bitchy queens. The bottom line is America’s Next Top Model is a ratings winner for the CW Network. It appears Tyra has no real love for the black community she doesn’t care about the negative stereotypes, representations, and images that are broadcast. All Tyra Banks cares about is acquiring TV ratings, keeping her show on the air, and raking in more revenue.

Women’s Tennis Year End Review: Williams Sisters return to the top but Justine Henin is number one

Venus and Serena Williams once again demonstrated to the tennis world and to the cynical critics that they are great champions. The Williams Sisters nemesis is the great Belgian player Justine Henin. Henin has proven she is the number one player in the world at the moment. Justine is the queen of the WTA she is very consistent but I wish she had more of a personality. I do not know if its all lost in translation? Henin comes across as very aloof, indifferent, and haughty. Amelie Mauresmo is from France she is bilingual just like Henin but she comes across as very gentle, nice, and friendly.

Serena started off 2007 ranked at eighty one in the world. At the 2007 Australian Open so called tennis experts Pat Cash the one slam wonder and of course the termagant American tennis commentators at ESPN television were forecasting a dystopian storyline for Serena. Jon Wertheim the egregious American tennis reporter also bashed Serena about her physique. Has Jon Wertheim ever looked in the mirror at his own reflection? Wertheim will go on and on about Serena being out of shape but she’s gorgeous. Wertheim should take his own advice and be careful he can shatter glass with his appearance.

Since I live in Toronto Canada the only “sports” network available is TSN. For some bizarre reason TSN continues to receive their tennis feed through ESPN television. During the French Open this year the Tennis Channel shared television broadcasts duties with ESPN. I find the Tennis Channel commentators to be so much more professional and classy they actually talk about tennis. I cringe every January when the Australian Open commences because I constantly have to put my television set on mute.

Its the same tired and dry cycle we have Patrick McEnroe on the air with his constant homoerotic displays of affection for Andy Roddick and James Blake. Patrick will have a lovefest with himself and declare his devotion to the chronic underachiever Andy Roddick. Patrick will go on and on about how great Andy Roddick is. Roddick has proven he is in the second tier of the top ten. Roddick can beat most of the male tennis players but he cannot beat the best. The only way Andy Roddick can win is if the other top players lose early. Roddick has not proven he can beat the best in the grand slams. James Blake can’t beat anybody at the top he always capitulates in the grand slam events.

The unprofessionalism of the American tennis commentators is beyond disgraceful its pathetic. Mary Joe Fernandez, and Cliff Drysdale are the only Amerian tennis commentators that understand the difference between being silent between points. Mary Carillo and Pam Shriver the loquacious tennis analysts have not learned to be silent between points. Patrick McEnroe is basically a professional cheerleader whenever Andy Roddick is on the television set McEnroe has an extremely egregious behavior he has zero class.

Nadia Petrova a former top ten Russian player and Serena’s third round opponent criticized Serena prior to their match. Petrova has never won a grand slam nor has she ever advanced to a grand slam final. Its so foolish for Nadia Petrova to bash Serena when Petrova is a consistent underachiever. Nadia was quoted in the press saying Serena doesn’t concentrate enough on tennis. Well, where are Petrova’s slam titles? Last time I checked she’s not a champion and not a winner. Petrova has a history of being a chronic choker in big matches. Once again Nadia Petrova’s big mouth proved to be her downfall. Serena fought back from down 1-6 3-5 to win the match 1-6 7-5 6-3.

The rising Serbian player Jelena Jankovic another big mouth that has proven nothing at the elite level also questioned Serena’s fitness. The media have hyped Jankovic but she always fails at the quarterfinals or semifinals of grand slams. I don’t consider Jankovic a contender until she wins a grand slam. Serena destroyed Jankovic 6-3 6-2 in their fourth round match. In the quarterfinals Shahar Peer from Israel choked the match she was two points from defeating Serena but lost 3-6 6-2 8-6. In the semifinals and finals Serena played her best tennis easily blasting Czech teen Nicole Vaidisova and the overrated Maria Sharapova in straight sets. Sharapova was in tears after the match after Serena humiliated her 6-1 6-2 in about an hour. Sharapova appeared slow, she was intimidated by Serena and she played like a scared little kitten.

Mary Carillo’s bias against the Williams Sisters exploded in her face. Carillo’s immature outbursts about Serena’s lack of dedication to the game just made her look like a complete idiot. Carillo and Pam Shriver criticized Serena’s weight even laughing at times at Serena as they placed Eurocentric body image standards on my girl. For once Mary Carillo was silenced and stunned there was absolutely nothing the termagant could say. Carillo looked like a fool for all of her racist and sexist comments against Serena Williams during the 2007 Australian OPEN ESPN broadcast.

Carillo is a consistent Williams Sisters hater along with Pam Shriver, Chris Fowler, Patrick McEnroe, and the rest of the pathetic ESPN crew. Does ESPN have a policy to hire racists for their tennis telecasts? Sure seems like it. Sadly, Carillo, Fowler, Shriver, and Patrick McEnroe are all fellow Americans yet they bash the Williams Sisters with every opportunity they can find. I tend to have my television set on mute they make my ears bleed with their hypocrisy and bigotry. When are ESPN tennis viewers going to hold ESPN accountable? If you have a problem with the American tennis commentators complain to ESPN let them know this racist crap cannot continue.

It just goes to show in the United States skin colour and not nationality is the litmus test for ESPN television. Andy Roddick and James Blake had miserable years on the ATP Tour as usual. Patrick McEnroe looks like a professional groupie he hypes Roddick and Blake up and they keep on losing the big matches. Its clear that Roddick and Blake are not contenders. There is only one person that controls the ATP Tour and his name is Roger Federer.

Yes Rodidck and Blake won the Davis Cup but that was a team effort. On the ATP Tour both American men have proven they are below the Europeans. Patrick McEnroe as everyone knows is the American Davis Cup captain but what have Blake and Roddick accomplished this year. Last time I checked Blake and Roddick were 0-4 against Roger Federer this year. Roddick and Blake also failed to reach a grand slam final. Why doesn’t ESPN waste their time on the failure of the American men?

Venus was unable to play the Australian Open due to a chronic wrist injury. Venus started 2007 at a minor event in Memphis easily destroying Shahar Peer 6-1 6-1 in less then an hour to win the event. However, media reports dismissed Venus’s title victory given the fact she was playing against lower ranked players. Venus was shrewd to play Memphis because she simply wanted to build her confidence and win matches.

Serena continued her strong play at the Miami tier I WTA event in March 2007 once again defeating Sharapova again easily 6-1 6-1. Justine Henin choked against Serena in the finals as Serena fought off two match points to win the title 0-6 7-5 6-3. Earlier in the event Venus squandered a lead against Maria Sharapova in the third round losing a tough 2-6 6-2 7-5 marathon. Richard Williams openly criticized Venus in the press I was stunned. I understand Richard was frustrated but to pick on Venus through the media was surprising.

Unlike Serena, Venus’s game has to flow to work consistently. Serena has a more consistent serve and forehand then Venus. However, I think that Venus moves better then Serena she has longer legs and more reach. I also think Venus volleys better then Serena. It is very tough to pass six foot one Venus at the net.

The real difference between Venus and Serena I believe is the mental aspect to the game. I don’t question the hunger or desire of both Williams Sisters I know they want to win. The issue I have with Venus is why can’t get help with her serve? Venus has the biggest serve in women’s tennis. At the French Open Venus served at 129 mph during one match. It is the largest serve ever by a female in a main draw WTA tour event. If Venus can just harness her power, pull back a bit, learn to wait be patient she can be so dangerous.

I notice that Serena has the ability to slow down a bit take a bit of power off the ball if she’s making too many unforced errors. I notice with Venus that she just tries to strike the ball harder and harder off her forehand side even if she’s making mistakes. Another issue I have with Venus is why does she only play well at Wimbledon? Its a fair question. At Wimbledon Venus realizes she can pull back a bit not try to hit the 125 mph ace all the time. I think the key for Venus is to slow the serve just a little bit but get a hard effective serve in. At Wimbledon this year Venus served so well and that was the key to her winning the title. Venus is six foot one I like that she is coming to net more but she needs to make this a habit. Venus is so tall she reminds me of Althea Gibson in the sense she instinctively knows how to volley at net. I wish Venus can develop more of a serve and volley kind of game.

When Serena plays she want to win at all costs she has the killer instinct. Venus also has a killer instinct yet crumbles when she plays Serena she just doesn’t produce. Is Serena more talented then Venus? Well, according to their grand slam results in a way the answer is yes. Serena has won all four of the grand slams and Venus has won two out of the four. The question has to be asked, why hasn’t Venus won the Australian Open or French Open yet? Will Venus ever win one of the first two grand slams of the year? I ask this question because its obvious Venus has the ability, she has the fitness, it all comes down to Venus mechanics. Venus problems are more psychological and mechanical. If Serena is extremely fit and motivated she’s very dangerous. Venus is different Venus game has to be flowing in order to challenge the top players.

Venus had a satisfactory clay court season clay has never been the Williams Sisters best surface. Serena has won the French Open once in 2002 and Justine Henin has dominated the French Open ever since. It is shocking to me that Venus has never won the French Open. Venus has won major clay court titles such as the Italian Open on the slow red European clay in 1999, she also has won the Charleston clay court event in the United States in 2004. Venus lost to French player Tatiana Golivin at Amelia Island, she lost to Jelena Jankovic in a tight three setter in Charleston, and she also was defeated by Svetlana Kuznetsova in Warsaw. Venus worst clay court loss in 2007 was the Aravane Rezai in straight sets. At the French Open Venus lost to Jelena Jankovic again in the third round. Venus complained that she was suffering due to anemia and a lack of energy in the 6-4 4-6 6-1 loss. Serena reached the quaterfinals only to be swept aside by Justine Henin 6-4 6-3.

The Williams Sisters never play warm up events prior to Wimbledon they prefer instead to return to Flordia after the French Open and train in the United States. At Wimbledon Venus almost lost her first round and third round matches. Once Venus was on Center Court at Wimbeldon the old great Venus returned. In a highly anticipated fourth round match against Maria Sharapova Venus blasted Sharapova off the court 6-1 6-3. Venus continued the strong play easily defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-4 in the quaterfinals. Serena lost a tightly contested match against Justine Henin in the quarerfinals. The consensus was it would once again be a rematch of the 2001 Wimbledon women’s final between Venus and Justine Henin.

Venus fulfilled her part easily dispatching Serbian player Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-4 without breaking a sweat. Ivanovic is a talented young player she has a big serve, good volley, nice variety and solid groundstrokes. Ivanovic’s problem is her mobility she simply isn’t fast enough. Venus exploited Ivanovic’s lack of speed constantly in the match pushing her all over the court and coming to net to knock off the winning volleys.

The other semifinal between Justine Henin and Marion Bartoli was supposed to be a wipeout. Bartoli was ranked in the top twenty but she was never considered a contender. Bartoli shocked Justine Henin 1-6 7-5 6-1 due to Justine Henin’s choke job. Henin capitulated the match even though she had a solid lead and once again failed to deliver at Wimbledon even though she was a clear favourite to win the title. Bartoli’s win over Henin was one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history. In the final Venus rolled over Bartoli 6-4 6-1 since Bartoli was most likely overwhelmed due to Venus Williams huge serves, blistering groundstrokes, incredible speed and variety. Bartoli never had a chance but she should be proud of her accomplishment.

Serena missed most of the summer hardcourt season due to a thumb injury she had no matches going into the 2007 US OPEN. Serena played well but it simply wasn’t good enough against Justine Henin in the quarterfinals. Henin rolled over Serena 7-6 6-1. When I watched the match I felt that Serena was slow she wasn’t moving to the ball well enough. I wondered if the rumours were true that Serena was still having problems with her knees.

The US OPEN organizers ruined Venus 2007 US OPEN hopes by rescheduling her quaterfinal match against Jelena Jankovic from Tuesday night to Wednesday evening. Venus won the battle against Jankovic 4-6 6-1 7-6. However, Venus clearly was not herself she only had a day to recover for the semifinals against Justine Henin and lost 7-6 6-4 in a two hour fierce battle. Justine Henin became the first player on the WTA tour to beat both the Williams Sisters in a grand slam event and also become the US OPEN champion.

In the fall of 2007 Venus elected to play smaller events in Asia to boost her ranking. Venus won the Korean Open yet faltered surprisingly against Virginie Razanno of France at the Japan Open and losing to Flavia Penetta at the Bangkok Open. Serena played three events in Germany, Switzerland, and Russia she failed to win any of the tournaments. Whispers emerged that the Williams Sisters were no longer on top of the WTA. The truth is 2007 was really Justine Henin’s year she won both the French Open and the US Open. Henin also did not lost a match after the Wimbledon final.

Lindsay Davenport reemerged in the fall of 2007 winning a small event in Bali but defeating Jelena Jankovic in a surprise upset. Davenport also won a minor event in Quebec City. Davenport proved that she still is a force on the WTA.

The question for the Williams Sisters and Lindsay Davenport is can they stop Justine Henin? Maria Sharapova is a talented player but she lacks variety in her game and Henin has proven she can outlast Sharapova due to her superior fitness and speed. Sharapova may be slim but she simply is not fit enough to compete with Henin. If Sharapova wants to beat Henin she will have to workout a lot harder. I also have noticed Sharapova has no finesse to her game she doesn’t really think on the court. Against Justine she will need to improve her volley skills.

Henin is playing the best tennis of her career she is the reigning Queen of the WTA. One of the advantages Henin has over the Williams Sisters and Davenport is her variety. Justine Henin may not have the best personality in women’s tennis but she does have the drive and the determination. Henin may only be five foot five but she serves big, she has a low slice backhand which has proven to be a weapon against the other top women. Henin also has improved her forehand she also can hit drop shots, and a hard flat top spin backhand to rush her opponents.

Unlike Sharapova and Davenport the Williams Sisters have the variety mixed with the finesse and the power to defeat Justine Henin. The quandary for the Williams Sisters is can they remain injury free for the 2008 Australian Open? Serena’s fitness has always been a question mark and to Serena’s credit she has worked harder on her fitness this year. Serena simply needs confidence and the only way is to play matches. Serena played a minor event in Hobart Tasmania this year prior to the Australian Open. Even though Serena lost in the quarterfinals of the Hobart event I still believe it helped her to win the 2007 Australian Open.

I am kind of disappointed that Serena has elected not to return to Hobart I think she will need matches prior to the Australian Open. Venus is always a question mark she is usually very physically fit but her serve has proven to be inconsistent at times. We just don’t know how Venus will play? At the 2006 Australian Open Venus lost in the first round to a lower ranked player. Can the American women challenge Justine Henin? Or will Justine continue her domination of women’s tennis and win everything? We will find out shortly at the 2008 Australian Open.

If you want to complain and contact ESPN Television about the American tennis commentators racism and sexism against the Williams Sisters here is the link: http://espn.go.com/sitetools/s/contact/espntv.html