Both Venus and Serena Williams are legends in the sport of tennis. 

Between them, the sisters have won 37 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles.

It’s an incredible achievement, making them icons of the sport.

Venus and Serena have returned to professional tennis at an age when many would have already retired for years. Venus is now 46 while Serena is 44. 

It was always going to be tough getting back out there and battling with a new generation of players.

At Wimbledon this summer, Serena went out in the first round to Australian Maya Joint in three sets. She showed flashes of her brilliance, but she lacked consistency, and her serve lacked that customary pop. 

Though she lost in the first round, she did not embarrass herself against a player 24 years younger than her.

Serena did embarrass herself by not attending the mandatory post-match press conference. She cited an injury and left Wimbledon quickly without addressing journalists or congratulating Maya Joint, who remained composed and played well. 

She opted not to be cordial, congenial or compliant. She could have faced the journalists and said she still has some work to do but doesn’t want to take anything away from Maya Joint, who was the better player on the day. 

Instead, she tweeted she wanted her children to see what she does. 

She also should show them that good manners and how you comport yourself are as equally important as winning.

Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles and is hailed as the GOAT. Over the last two years he has not won a Grand Slam and has had some setbacks against opponents he would have blown away in his prime.

Yet he turns up at post-match press conferences and is always forthright, obliging and for the most part affable. Djokovic is always a class act. So too were Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

Djokovic lost in the first round of this year’s U.S. Open. He was vomiting and had physical ailments, yet battled on. At the post-match press conference, he talked about his performance and addressed whether he would continue to play at Grand Slams.

On Friday, both Serena and Venus were beaten in the first round of the women’s doubles at the U.S. Open by Maya Joint and  Hat- Ching Chan, going down in three sets.

They both waved regally on leaving the court but refused to attend the post-match press conference. For doing so, they should have incurred a $100,000 fine.

The sisters should be setting the example. After all these years, they should be giving back to the sport that has been so good to them. They were not injured in a way that would make it difficult for them to face the press. They chose to be difficult and play the prima donna. Such behaviour is unedifying, and tennis authorities should make it clear that this will not be tolerated. 

They were awarded wild cards and treated with respect. Their achievements and place in the sport no doubt were determining factors here.

What did they do to show their gratitude? Disrespect the tournament, exhibit ungracious behaviour.

Venus is on a 15-match losing streak but still gets wild cards.

“Both of them should show some class. They are looked up to as role models. These are poor examples to set for young people, said someone on X.

“So disrespectful. No class and not the first time. Stop giving them wild cards,” read another blast on X.

Tennis is a middle-class sport with its customs and insistence on decorum. It has long-established etiquette. 

The William sisters come from the ghetto of Compton, Los Angeles, a far cry from the genteel ways of the tennis world.

They broke so many barriers, and now they refuse to play ball.

Many will say, “ I told you so. Hitting a tennis ball very hard and being exceptionally good at it doesn’t give you grace and manners. Once a hood rat, always a hood rat.”

Their place in the tennis world dictates they are held to high standards, standards they cannot abandon on a whim. 

You cannot purchase class and good graces. They are in no position to be entitled. 

They need to retire now that they are well over the hill. If they decide to continue, they must show civility and respect. Honour the game, not just yourselves.