Relationship vitae: How dogs and wins show Bianca Andreescu & Rafael Nadal are the same people

Roland Garros 2019 was recently surrounded with controversy when the Austrian player, Dominic Thiem blasted tennis icon Serena Willians for her “bad behaviour”.

Thiem alleged that he was thrown out of his own press conference by the presser as Williams, former number 1 player, refused to wait for her turn. He suggested that it was because of her loss against the unseeded American player, Sofia Kenin, and termed the act tantrums.

“I don’t really get it, seriously. I mean, what the hell? No, but it’s a joke, really…I have to leave the room because she’s coming? I leave also then. I’m not standing around. I can also do what I want,” said the Austrian, unafraid to comment on the matter - unlike Serena, who refrained.

However, contrary to Thiem’s claims, alternate reports indicate it was the organisers’ fault. French sports daily L'Equipe reported that Williams had no preference over where she carried out her press conference. Infact, a source also reported to overhear Serena saying ‘It is rude,’ post the re-allotment of the room.

In her match against the World No.1 Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka was slammed for taking an 11-minute break between the two sets. Regarded as ‘downright disrespectful’, many observers deliberated the break to be an act of gamesmanship. The event inspired a lot of backlash from commentators and viewers alike. However, whatever the intent - the action backfired, as Osaka finished the two-hour 50-minute game with 52 winners and 43 unforced errors - becoming the first top seed to win two opening matches at Roland Garros after losing the first set, since Lindsay Davenport in 2005.

The tennis dress has been a symbol of stereotyped femininity for most of history. However, Serena’s personalised sports attire aims to change that. During the French Open, Willams unveiled her politically-charged rendition of the traditional tennis ‘dress’. Adorned in her Nike x Off White outfit, Williams wore a black-and-white striped crop top, tennis skirt, trapeze-back- cape like jacket and maxi skirt (for photos), all with the French words for “Mother, Champion, Queen, Goddess.” The decision, though bold, earned approval from fans all over social media. It was also a shot at the French Open authorities who slammed her cat-suit outfit with a dress-code violation during the last season, thereby reopening the debate on personal autonomy amongst women-tennis players.

The French-Open bred yet another outfit controversy when Rafa Nadal ascended the court sporting a fluoro yellow prime. In his match against the German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, Nadal’s shirt was critiqued for its colour as it resembled that of the tennis ball. At the time, viewers marched to their respective social media pages to share their disapproval - even demanding a colour-ban - as they believed the colour to be off-putting for Hanfmann. The 11-time champion blasted his compatriot 6-2 6-1 6-3 that match.