"No class, respect or grace, didn’t even shake hands with the umpire" - Tennis fans react to Venus Williams' conduct after Wimbledon 1R defeat

Venus Williams' behavior after her first-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships has drawn sharp reactions from tennis fans.Williams made a strong start to her campaign at the grasscourt Major, breaking Svitolina's serve early to take a 2-0 lead in the opening set. However, the former World No. 1 encountered a setback as she slipped and fell while hitting a volley at the net. Her pain was evident as she screamed while clutching her already-taped leg.Despite taking a medical timeout, Venus Williams struggled to regain her form, allowing Svitolina to claim the opening set and then take a 5-3 lead in the second. The match concluded with a moment of drama, as Svitolina's forehand was initially called out by the line judge. The decision was overruled when the Ukrainian challenged the call, prompting the chair umpire to end the match.Williams, seemingly expecting the point to be replayed, shook her head in disappointment at the umpire's decision. After exchanging handshakes with Svitolina at the net, the American made her frustration with the call evident by choosing not to shake the chair umpire's hand, instead shaking her head while looking at him once again.Several fans took issue with Venus Williams' refusal to shake the umpire's hand after the match.&quot;No class, respect or grace at the end of that game from Venus Williams. Didn't even shake hands with the Umpire. Poor form,&quot; a fan tweeted.Phil Dawson@PhotosbyPhilDNo class, respect or grace at the end of that game from Venus Williams. Didn’t even shake hands with the Umpire. Poor form. @bbctennis12No class, respect or grace at the end of that game from Venus Williams. Didn’t even shake hands with the Umpire. Poor form. @bbctennis&quot;For as much as the ESPN commentators went on (and on and on) about her level of class, not shaking the umpire's hand was pretty classless,&quot; another fan chimed in.Shilo Adams@sda0918@josemorgado For as much as the ESPN commentators went on (and on and on) about her level of class, not shaking the umpire's hand was pretty classless.53@josemorgado For as much as the ESPN commentators went on (and on and on) about her level of class, not shaking the umpire's hand was pretty classless.Other fans drew parallels between the seven-time Grand Slam champion's behavior and her sister Serena Williams' past conduct with chair umpires.&quot;Venus seems really eager to make herself look as bad as Serena with that disgusting behavior. Looks like it's coded in that family to feel better than the rest and be disrespectful to everyone,&quot; a fan commented.Smithy (Queen Iga 4 GS titles)🏳&zwj;🌈🐻❤️@Arthus92@josemorgado Venus seems really eager to make herself look as bad as Serena with that disgusting behavior. Looks like it's coded in that family to feel better than the rest and be disrespectful to everyone21@josemorgado Venus seems really eager to make herself look as bad as Serena with that disgusting behavior. Looks like it's coded in that family to feel better than the rest and be disrespectful to everyone&quot;With a glorious careeer at age 43, still petty about a non-imporant and probably just call and refusing handshake with umpire. reminded why her and her sister were always unlikeable,&quot; another user posted.Shaashsi@Fredegartoluk@josemorgado with a glorious careeer at age 43, still petty about a non-imporant and probably just call and refusing handshake with umpire. reminded why her and her sister were always unlikeable.34@josemorgado with a glorious careeer at age 43, still petty about a non-imporant and probably just call and refusing handshake with umpire. reminded why her and her sister were always unlikeable.Here are a few more fan reactions:S. Chadwick@sentachadwickI don’t understand Venus Williams behavior at the end of that match. Rude to Svitolina at the net and wouldn’t shake the umpires hand? Then leaves the court like that? Super rude behavior. #Wimbledon293I don’t understand Venus Williams behavior at the end of that match. Rude to Svitolina at the net and wouldn’t shake the umpires hand? Then leaves the court like that? Super rude behavior. #WimbledonNaomiSky15@NaomiSky_15Watching Venus Williams lose and walk off without shaking the hand of the umpire, really makes it hard for me to root for her. Just show some class. It’s easy. This is how standards slip.76739Watching Venus Williams lose and walk off without shaking the hand of the umpire, really makes it hard for me to root for her. Just show some class. It’s easy. This is how standards slip.🇬🇧 Bren Kilmartin 🇬🇧@BigBrenLFC@NaomiSky_15 Both sisters, whilst great players, have always had the ‘do you know who I am’ attitude. Serena Williams actually spoke those very words to an umpire!661@NaomiSky_15 Both sisters, whilst great players, have always had the ‘do you know who I am’ attitude. Serena Williams actually spoke those very words to an umpire!Jeff@jeffnewton1@Wimbledon @ElinaSvitolina Victory for Ukraine but rather ungracious of Venus not to shake the umpire's hand !24@Wimbledon @ElinaSvitolina Victory for Ukraine but rather ungracious of Venus not to shake the umpire's hand !Łukasz@lookaug@josemorgado Not shaking umpire's hand was not a great look.73@josemorgado Not shaking umpire's hand was not a great look.Fantasy Tennis League 💎@FantasyTennisL1@TennisPodcast Was Venus expecting that point to be replayed? I don't think the line call affected her return to be honest.19@TennisPodcast Was Venus expecting that point to be replayed? I don't think the line call affected her return to be honest.Jenny Close@JennyClose10@josemorgado Didn't like her reaction at the end, she knew the ball was on the line and looked irritated when Svitolina challenged, not very sporting....4@josemorgado Didn't like her reaction at the end, she knew the ball was on the line and looked irritated when Svitolina challenged, not very sporting....Niels@Niels1803@NaomiSky_15 Especially when Svitolina came directly to her aid after the slip. The ball was called in by a freaking computer. Sore loser. Even more cringe that the commentators immediately started talking about Williams being a great champion accepting defeat 🤡562@NaomiSky_15 Especially when Svitolina came directly to her aid after the slip. The ball was called in by a freaking computer. Sore loser. Even more cringe that the commentators immediately started talking about Williams being a great champion accepting defeat 🤡&quot;I was literally killing it, then I got killed by the grass&quot; - Venus Williams after Wimbledon 1R defeatVenus Williams slipped and fell during her Wimbledon 2023 openerFollowing her defeat, Venus Williams expressed uncertainty regarding the extent of the injury due to her fall during the match.&quot;I'm not sure what I've done. I'm going to have to investigate it tomorrow. It's late today. But it was quite painful,&quot; she said in her post-match press conference.The 43-year-old joked that she had been &quot;killed by the grass&quot; after initially dominating the match.&quot;Grass is inherently going to be slippery; you're going to fall at some point. It was just bad luck for me. I started the match perfectly. I was literally killing it. And then I got killed by the grass,&quot; she added.Following her win over Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina will take on Elise Mertens in the second round of Wimbledon 2023.

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