It was 10 years ago today, March 17, 2001, where Serena Williams played what is likely her last match ever the now re-named BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The ugly incident, documented below from the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com), has resulted in Serena and older sister Venus Williams being absent from the event ever since, due to the negative fan reaction and alleged racist remarks.
Booed as she enters the court for her final round match against Kim Clijsters at the Tennis Masters Series –Indian Wells, Serena Williams withstands the harsh fan and media allegations of match-fixing, by defeating Clijsters 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Fans react severely to the Williams family after Venus Williams abruptly withdraws from her semifinal match with Serena Williams the day before. “In the beginning, I was a little shocked,” Serena says. “Then I was like, ‘Wow, this is getting old. Move on to something new…I prayed to God just to help me be strong, not even to win, but to be strong, not listen to the crowd.” The withdrawal and aftermath came on the heels of tabloid story in the National Enquirer stating that Williams father Richard fixed the 2000 Wimbledon semifinal between the two sisters.
In the mean-time, the tennis world awaits Serena’s return to professional tennis, following two foot surgeries and a haematoma from a pulmonary embolism that nearly killed her.