Serena Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players who has ever lived, but her career was not without its controversies.
After all, as a black woman growing up in a predominantly white sport, she and her sister faced great prejudice when they first burst onto the WTA Tour and throughout their careers.
This was made even more apparent when Serena Williams, in particular, began hoovering up every conceivable accolade, dominating the sport in a manner unlike anything the women’s game had ever really seen before.
In the end, she would retire on 23 Grand Slam singles titles and will be remembered by most for the way in which she combined raw physicality with a magical technical skillset.
Although, Caroline Wozniacki did explain why Serena Williams’ game frustrated her earlier this month.
However, as touched upon earlier, the controversies that embroiled points of her career will also live long in the memory too, with her long-running feud with Justine Henin chief among them.
Why Serena Williams was booed by the French Open crowd in 2003
In 2003, this rivalry came to a head when these two great adversaries met in the semi-finals of the French Open.
Before this match, Williams had won four of their last six matches and triumphed in their only prior meeting at a Grand Slam. She was widely expected to continue this feat, especially after winning the Australian Open earlier in the year.
However, as the match unfolded, it became clear that this would be no walk in the park.
Henin took the opening set before Williams battled back to claim the second. Alas, it was during the crucial deciding third set that the overwhelming controversy occurred that left the American in tears as the Roland Garros crowd booed her conduct.
Williams was left frustrated when Henin did not intervene when the umpire mistakenly refused her the right to replay her first serve at 4-2, 30-0.
The Belgian had raised her hand to indicate she was not ready to receive the serve, but the umpire missed it and thus did not play a let.
Latching onto the furore provoked by this incident, the Parisian crowd then cheered any Williams mistake, and booed her in between serves. Naturally, this proved too much for the youngster.
Serena Williams left in tears after being booed by the French Open fans
Speaking to the press after that defeat, which ended her streak of four straight Grand Slam titles, Serena cut an emotional figure.
She began by speaking about Henin: “I was a little disappointed with her.
“It wasn’t the turning point of the match; I should have still won the game, but to start lying and fabricating is not fair.
“People want to win these days, but this is just a tournament and I’m looking forward to next time already.”
Then, fighting back tears, she continued: “I’m not used to crying, I’m sorry.
“I was really upset when they booed me. It was just a tough crowd out there today, really very tough. It’s the story of my life. It’s a little difficult. All my life, I have had to fight.
“It’s just another fight I’m going to have to learn to win, that’s all. I’ve just got to keep smiling. It was hard. She started out really strong, and from the first point, they were all over her to do well.
“It was hard to get into a rhythm. Once they got started, it was hard to make them stop.”
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