An Analysis Of Tracy Austin’s Predilection For Lindsay Davenport & Racial Bias Against The Williams Sisters!!!
Many people have wondered why did Richard Williams slam former tennis champion Tracy Austin in a recent interview? Some people will brush off Richard Williams comments as just Richard being controversial. It is true Mr. Williams was a bit inimical in his comments about Austin. Richard didn’t have to use scatological language against Tracy Austin.
However, if you dig a bit deeper there is indeed some veracity to Mr. Williams views about the American tennis expert Tracy Austin. For instance, anyone that has bothered to pay close attention to Tracy Austin knows she has an axe to grind against the Williams Sisters. Everyone knows Austin has an intense fondness for Davenport but it also demonstrates a lack of professionalism. What has Tracy Austin accomplished other then being a former teen prodigy that failed to live up to her potential? Austin burned out due to injuries and indifference to the game.
In a recent media report Davenport claims she asked Venus and Serena to play Fed Cup but both declined. First off, Lindsay Davenport has also been cruel to the Williams Sisters for many years since they were teenagers. Why should Venus and Serena support Lindsay? Venus played Fed Cup last year after she won Wimbledon. Venus only had one week to prepare for Fed Cup but she played anyway because she respects Zina Garrison. Venus also played for her country in 2005 after her stunning Wimbledon victory in 2005 as well. Serena played for the United States last year in Fed Cup in Spring 2007. Davenport has no right to insinuate that the Williams Sisters don’t support their country.
Austin doesn’t have to “like” the Williams Sisters but her complete lack of respect for Venus and Serena borders on the delusional aspect of Austin’s personality. Venus and Serena are the only Americans still consistently winning grand slam singles titles. On the ATP Tour Andy Roddick and James Blake are not slam contenders they are pretenders. On the WTA Venus and Serena may not be ranked at the very top but they are great champions and deserve our respect.
How can tennis fans take Tracy Austin’s comments seriously when she doesn’t acknowledge the fact Lindsay Davenport is a chronic underachiever and consistent choker? For many years French tennis star Amelie Mauresmo has been hammered in the media for choking the big matches. However, if you look at Lindsay Davenport’s career she’s had more opportunities then Mauresmo to win slams yet Davenport always fades into oblivion in the crucial matches. If Davenport is so great why does she only have three grand slams titles? Three slam victories is nothing special it means a player is good but this is not legendary status. I must also point out Davenport has only won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open events once in her career.
Tracy Austin has an intense irrational jealousy towards the Williams Sisters because they are the road blocks in Davenport’s career. Tracy Austin is so enraged when Venus and Serena consistently defeat Lindsay that she has a sad sulk on her face after the routine losses. Venus and Serena stopped Davenport from winning more grand slams because they are superior tennis players. The Williams Sisters never follow the crowd they create their own rules and it works for them. Venus and Serena don’t need to prepare for grand slams like the other women. Venus and Serena can show up at a grand slam play their way into form and destroy the competition. At the 2007 Australian Open and Wimbledon championships Serena and Venus blasted the women’s field off the court. It was a repeat of the 2005 Australian Open and Wimbledon Serena and Venus rolled over the competition.
Austin surreptitiously coats her comments with petulant remarks about the Williams Sisters she is careful not to use racial slurs but her objective is still the same. Austin has a problem with the fact the most successful American female tennis players of this generation are black women.
If you read between the lines Austin’s negativity against Venus and Serena is easy to point out. Austin is a two slam wonder she’s not even close to being as good as Venus and Serena. It is well known in the tennis world Tracy Austin is not only a hypocrite she’s also a pernicious termagant.
For instance, after Venus won Wimbledon for the fourth time Austin’s MSNBC.COM article claims Venus victory was due to “magic”. It was an insult and a backhanded complement by Austin. Since Venus has won Wimbledon four times it is not “magic” it is called “talent”. Venus joins an elite group Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King are the only other women to have won Wimbledon four times or more during the Open era.
If you ever listen to American tennis analyst Tracy Austin you know just like clockwork she will gush on and on about Lindsay Davenport. Yet Austin will never be critical of Davenport’s constant choking during the big grand slam semifinals or final matches. At the 2004 Wimbledon Davenport had a 6-2 3-1 lead against Maria Sharapova yet lost the match 2-6 7-6 6-1. At the 2004 US Open Davenport was coming off an impressive summer she won four hard court titles leading into the US Open. However, against Svetlana Kuznetsova Davenport crumbled under the pressure again losing 1-6 6-4 6-2. Davenport is known for being a chronic underachiever in the grand slams.
The most spectacular collapses in Davenport’s career was in the year 2005. For example, during the Wimbledon women’s final Davenport served for the match even had a match point but lost to Venus in the marathon match. Davenport was controlling the tempo of the match it was in her grasp yet Davenport doesn’t have the mental fortitude of the Williams Sisters. On the crucial big points as usual Davenport lost her composure and choked.
Tracy Austin was stunned that Venus won the 2005 Wimbledon she also was extremely obnoxious during the trophy presentation ceremony. Austin made excuses especially this comment “why did Lindsay have the back injury up 4-2 in the third set?”It’s not Venus problem that Lindsay got injured that’s Lindsay’s problem. All Venus can do is play her own game and she won.
Austin was just being a typical racist termagant she refused to acknowledge Venus Williams incredible fighting spirit and refusal to give up. It was a disgraceful and disgusting comment on Austin’s part because prior to the back injury Davenport had numerous chances to win the match but capitulated as usual.
After Venus incredible comeback victory Austin kept on using the line Lindsay was “classy” during the trophy ceremony. It was just another typical snide backhanded comment by Tracy Austin. Austin was attempting to mock Venus because Venus was so thrilled and happy to win the tense women’s final. Venus has a right to display her happiness after winning a match she was losing and pulled through to win. Austin has no right to tell Venus how to express herself either.
Earlier in January 2005 Davenport won the first set against Serena at the 2005 Australian Open only to lose the match 2-6 6-3 6-0. The excuse was that Davenport had a tough doubles match the day before. It’s not Serena’s problem that Davenport is not in top physical condition. If you are an athlete at the top level of your profession you better be in maximum physical shape. Davenport capitulated the final set and didn’t even try. Davenport gave up in the final set due to lack of fitness she simply is out of shape. During the ESPN television broadcast Mary Carillo even said Davenport is a very “moody woman”. It is obvious Davenport can’t handle pressure very well.
Now to be fair Davenport is a three time grand slam champion and former world number one. However,Lindsay Davenport is not the best American female tennis player of her generation. Venus and Serena are superior to Davenport. Austin obviously doesn’t like this but the results are the facts.
Davenport is a solid player but Austin’s comments about Davenport have zero objectivity. Tennis fans also need to know Davenport and Austin shared a former coach Robert Landsorf. Austin’s reticence about the weaknesses in Davenport’s game are a complete joke and ruin her credibility.
For instance, during the 2008 Australian Open the media hyped the Davenport and Sharapova second round match. I picked Sharapova to win and she blasted Davenport off the court 6-1 6-3. Austin will comment about Davenport having hard hitting groundstrokes but Davenport lacks the variety, speed, and mental toughness of Sharapova, Williams Sisters, and Justine Henin. Davenport has also lost every single grand slam final she’s competed against the Williams Sisters. Venus and Serena have a combined 4-0 record against Davenport in the grand slam finals. Davenport is 1-5 against Sharapova as well. Justine Henin has blasted Davenport off the court multiple times in the last few years.
Austin attacked Serena’s fitness at the 2007 US Open John McEnroe defended Serena against Tracy Austin’s bitter, idiotic, acidic, immature outbursts. Tracy Austin of course will never admit the truth she is completely unprofessional and has a lack of class. Venus and Serena have brought tennis to a wider audience across the globe.
After the Williams Sisters retire they will be remembered as great female tennis champions. Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe opened the door for blacks in tennis. The Williams Sisters kicked the door down. Venus and Serena know they are good and this irks some people. In terms of pop culture the Williams Sisters have a bit more cultural resonance as well. The Williams Sisters proved you don’t need to be white, rich, play junior tennis to become tennis champions. Only hardcore tennis fans will remember Lindsay Davenport.
Gayblackcanada 
I cannot stand TA and your post pretty much sums it up.
The coverage of Miami and IW before has been awful but Chanda Rubin has been a positive in a sea of shit.
Yesterday she was paired w/ Ted Robinson during the Davenport/Ivanovic match and he was as nauseating as usual. Rubin pointed out that Zina had a hard time w/Fed Cup the past 4 years b/c of the number of American women who were injured. And arrogant, snide Ted put in his two cents that so many of the American women (easily read as the Williams) were playing tennis part time. Chanda held fast with her point that people were injured and specifically that Venus tried her best to help the team. But yet Davenport’s decision to have a child, which could be interpreted as “taking time off” is universally lauded and Ted himself couldn’t help gushing about Lindsay’s return. But grieving over your murdered sister or going to school is treated as if they spent their off time in an opium den…
You are right about Ted Robinson I forgot about that man he is a jerk and a creep. Robinson along with Tracy Austin are the worst commentators in tennis. The irrational vendetta Robinson and Austin have against the Williams Sisters is pathetic and disgusting. Both Robinson and Austin are just complete nightmares to listen to. Thank goodness Chanda Rubin was there I love Chanda Rubin! Also, Venus did play Fed Cup last year after she won Wimbledon for the fourth time! In fact, Venus played Fed Cup after she won Wimbledon in 2005 as well. Robinson and Austin are complete jokes and haters. I can’t stand them.
Austin loved Capriati, didn’t she? Chris Evert loved Capriati as well. And both had a huge axe to grind with the Williams sisters.
In fact, both, at one time or another have suggested that the Williams sisters should emulate Hingis, Capriati, et. al. (both drug burnouts) and play more tennis.
And not to mention Chris’ racism got her thrown off of TV.
And look at them now…
You are correct, Jennifer Capriati life is in a downward spiral she just overdosed on drugs last week. Hingis got caught with coke and was banned from tennis for two years.
The Williams Sisters and their parents don’t get the credit they deserve. Venus and Serena have a life outside of tennis their parents always stressed that their daughters should have a balance in their lives. Venus and Serena continue to rule Women’s tennis while the competition continues to fade away.
wow i am surprised to read this. obviously, as a UK resident i am not privy to what the US commentary is like. But I can only say that at Wimbledon, Tracy Austin is one of the best commentators out there, along with Johnny Mac. She was extremely complimentary about Serena today in the ladies final, in fact she couldnt have praised her more, especially SW’s serve, saying it was the best in the game. I didn’t detect any hostility at all… She always gives credit where its due and is very articulate. imho.
i do agree with you about Davenport though; she was deeply frustrating to watch and did not have the requisite emotional and psychological make up to sustain wins over the longer term. You could tell that her opponent would win even if she was technically on top.
I’m f*cking tired of these fans thinking people hate the Williams sisters because of their skin colour. It has nothing do with it. I actually like Venus, she’s nice and gentle. Her sister Serena is the complete opposite, loud and bitchy.
It’s funny how you forgot to mention her legendary arrogance I remember when Serena Williams mentionned ”bad luck” to justify her loss to Justine Henin in 3 consecutive slams, on 3 differents surfaces. When you lose 3 consecutive times on clay, grass and hard courts to someone, this person is simply better than you ! There is no ”bad luck”.
What about the Serena yelling she can beat top 100 male players ? She has no respect for the men game. In fact, she got crushed 6-2 6-2 by a guy ranked 500th.
What about the U.S Open 2009 incident, oh S.W fans would love to erase it from collective memory if they could ! It showed how much of an arrogant bitch she was.
100% Agreement – Tracy Austin has belittled the Williams’ sisters so often since they were teens to now… In her passive-aggressive style, she makes it known that she feel the Williams’ sisters were/are/have been nothing but “raw” talent, never acknowledging any other player’s performance and seemingly 2 personalities that have “invaded” the tennis scene. Ok. I’ll give her this – Venus and Serena will blow by any of her seemingly “well-manicured,” “polite” and “congratulatory” players that she may be imagining in her head. But, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt because this is in her head and thought by so many others who can’t believe that a black female tennis player is actually the standard that others are being held to. Shame on Tracy Austin. But… She can’t help it. Ignorance and hubris. Wow. A dangerous combo. But let her live in her comfortable world. Don’t let anyone dispel her idiocy. Ask John Mac. and others – They try. But she doesn’t give an inch no matter what. Even though the food that is fed back to her doesn’t register with her, it is very obvious to those watching the broadcast. She behaves like a 5-year-old kid.
BUT, HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT – Don’t throw Lindsay into the same category of TA. Yeah, she didn’t bow down to Venus and Serena on tour – HELLO! SHE WAS NUMBER ONE AND TRYING TO STAY THERE! She was pissed that they were being incredible athletes and champions and giving her more than a run for her money. Davenport knew that she was in trouble and she fought. She didn’t win the war with them (Even though she and Venus were dead-even in their head-to-heads overall). She was a competitor. But never did she exhibit any of the prejudices that TA has. Yeah – Davenport choked in a few GS finals. But when she lost to better competition, she always gave them credit. Kudos to her. Very admirable.
May, 2011