Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and other men’s tennis players who have complained about the blue clay at the Madrid Open are “weenies,” according to former women’s No. 1 Serena Williams.
Asked about criticism from Djokovic and Nadal over the slippery surface on the Manolo Santana show court, Williams said at a news conference that women were simply tougher than their male counterparts.
“Women are way tougher than men. That’s why we have the babies, you guys could never handle kids,” Williams said after thumping top seed Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 6-3, to win the Madrid title yesterday. “We ladies don’t complain we just do our best. On the WTA (tour) we are real performers, we are not about going out there and being weenies.”
Dictionary.com lists several definitions of “weenie” including “an insignificant, disliked person” or “a stupid and inept male.”
Djokovic and Nadal have threatened to boycott the Madrid event next year unless the traditional red dirt is reinstated.
Later, Roger Federer rallied to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and win the Madrid Open for a third time.
“It is amazing to win here again,’’ said Federer, who will overtake Nadal as the second-ranked player behind Djokovic. “It has been a tough tournament. Tough to move, but you’ve got to try to make the most of it. Here there was some good tennis and some bad tennis, but you see that in all tournaments.’’
Meanwhile, the red clay courts of the Italian Open in Rome have been heaven for Djokovic after a week on the experimental blue surface in Madrid.
The top-ranked Djokovic was highly critical of the blue clay tested at the Madrid Open, especially after he lost to fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals.
“It feels great,’’ Djokovic said. “After that blue clay, this clay seems like paradise.
“The most basic thing you have in our sport — the most important — is the movement,’’ Djokovic said. “If you cannot be in balance for the ball, and to hit the ball, then everything becomes twice as difficult. That’s the biggest difference. Here you can actually be on the ball and slide well, where there you were slipping and falling down.’’
