Dear Serena Williams
Dear Serena Williams,
Having grown up the during the last phase of the “Michael Chang Fever,” many of my Asian friends flocked to play tennis, hoping to become the new Michael Chang who became our hero for dominating in a white sport. Luckily for me, I did not have to join that crowd. I found another game that was predominantly white for me to play in. As an ice hockey player during my teenage years, I’ve drawn stares in the locker room, wondered about the judgment call before stepping into the penalty boxes, and was heckled at by other kids on the opposing team for being “yellow.” Each time an incident like that happened, my anger will boil inside me, disturbing my concentration level and destroying my confidence.
So, reading about your 911 match in 2011 against Sam Stosur caught my attention and made me wonder perhaps the referee had made a biased call that caused you a point. Although some may criticize your verbal expression on the court, I can understand how frustrated you could have been at that intense moment. I assume there may have been many incidences in your sports career when you felt you were mistreated; the anger seemed to have vented on that day at the match.
I was hoping you could share how you became the top player in tennis as a minority. Have you had incidences when you thought you were mistreated due to being a minority? You may have lost the match to Sam Stosur that day, but watching you play as an American on that particular 911 tournament was meant for me. Not even medical problems could not stop you from being on that court. You may have lost that match, but your “arduous journey,” which is a phrase you have used to describe your career, is the winner from my perspectives.
Sincerely,
Matt
Having grown up the during the last phase of the “Michael Chang Fever,” many of my Asian friends flocked to play tennis, hoping to become the new Michael Chang who became our hero for dominating in a white sport. Luckily for me, I did not have to join that crowd. I found another game that was predominantly white for me to play in. As an ice hockey player during my teenage years, I’ve drawn stares in the locker room, wondered about the judgment call before stepping into the penalty boxes, and was heckled at by other kids on the opposing team for being “yellow.” Each time an incident like that happened, my anger will boil inside me, disturbing my concentration level and destroying my confidence.
So, reading about your 911 match in 2011 against Sam Stosur caught my attention and made me wonder perhaps the referee had made a biased call that caused you a point. Although some may criticize your verbal expression on the court, I can understand how frustrated you could have been at that intense moment. I assume there may have been many incidences in your sports career when you felt you were mistreated; the anger seemed to have vented on that day at the match.
I was hoping you could share how you became the top player in tennis as a minority. Have you had incidences when you thought you were mistreated due to being a minority? You may have lost the match to Sam Stosur that day, but watching you play as an American on that particular 911 tournament was meant for me. Not even medical problems could not stop you from being on that court. You may have lost that match, but your “arduous journey,” which is a phrase you have used to describe your career, is the winner from my perspectives.
Sincerely,
Matt
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