‘Lack of empathy’ slammed amid strange Serena fallout
Aussie tennis great Rennae Stubbs has slammed a “lack of empathy” towards star client Serena Williams′ following her first-round Wimbledon loss to Maya Joint.
Williams’ long-awaited singles return was ended in three sets on Wednesday morning (AEST), and she did not do the mandatory post-match press conference.
Williams suffered a knee injury in her first-round singles loss to Maya Joint. AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska
Her decision not to do media, given the context around her long-awaited singles return and that she seemed under-done, did not go down well.
However, it soon emerged that Williams suffered a knee injury late in the first set, and it swelled after the match. Wimbledon officials “excused” her from media commitments so she could seek treatment.
Stubbs - a former world No.1 doubles player turned coach - took to social media to defend Williams, who she worked with prior to the Wimbledon loss.
“The hate and lack of empathy in this world is astounding to me,” she wrote on X.
“Especially when you have no idea what you’re talking about. Just blows my mind.”
Stubbs has been working with Williams in a shared role with Jarmere Jenkins since 2022, when Williams’ long-term partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou ended.
Ahead of her Wimbledon return, Jenkins was looking after her singles preparation, while Stubbs was primarily focussing on her doubles.
The knee injury has put Serena’s long-awaited reunion with sister Venus in the women’s doubles draw in doubt.
Williams’ agent Jill Smoller said the 44-year-old was doing “everything she can” to be ready for the doubles match, scheduled for Friday.
“Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations,” she said.
“She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week.”
