3 6 5
September 4, Flushing Meadows, NY: A perfect day at the open ( http://www.danaseye.com/Sports/Tennis/2009-US-Open/9520667_mX6sZ#639963392_9Z7JP). The first time came to the open was over 10 years ago. My first match ever was Venus Williams vs Arantxa Sanchez. The crowd booed Venus. I assume it had much more to do with her dad than her. I was with a couple of friends, also Black, and we already felt a bit like outsiders as spectators of a sport that hadn't had much Black representation...at least in our lifetimes (no disrespect to the Zina Garrisons, Lori McNeil's, Malavai Washington's, Yannick Noah's of the tennis world). And I think I took the crowd reaction a bit personally. I felt a little hurt, particularly with the American crowd supporting the Spanish player. Venus won the match, and I think my friends and I took it upon ourselves to try to compensate for the lack of crowd support. Today, I saw Jo-Wilifried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, and Serena. Three Black players on three different courts. The crowd was behind all of them. And they all won. And I feel like a regular.
