Tag: Tennis

Mandela is ‘amazing, influential’: Roger Federer

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer hailed ailing Nelson Mandela as “influential and amazing” on Monday as the anti-apartheid icon remained in a critical condition in a Pretoria hospital

“He’s been very influential, an amazing personality, you know, believed in something, had to pay a big price for it,” said Federer.

“Someone you can definitely look up to and that’s very important for me. Clearly there’s many that come and go, but he has been there for a very long time.

“And he’s very much respected and loved. So we hope he does well here now in this process.”

Federer was speaking after reaching the Wimbledon second round on Monday with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win over Romania’s Victor Hanescu.

The Swiss star has been a regular visitor to South Africa over the years where he has a charitable foundation.

The country is also the birthplace of his mother, Lynnette.

In 2011, Federer was voted second to Mandela in an international survey to find the world’s most respected, admired and trusted personality. – AFP

Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki accused of ‘racist’ impersonation

Caroline Wozniacki impersonates Serena Williams

Caroline Wozniacki has been accused of doing a ‘racist’ impersonation of fellow tennis player Serena Williams after stuffing her bra and shorts.

At a recent exhibition against Maria Sharapova in Brazil, the former world No. 1 stuffed courtside towels down her kit to replicate the body of the curvaceous Grand Slam champion.

But now the 22-year-old Dane, whose boyfriend golfer Rory McIlroy was in the crowd, has now been accused of racism by some observers.

On Tumblr, one blogger wrote: ‘This isn’t “harmless fun” as one article described it. its racist. out and outright racism. mocking and making fun of the bodies of black women for a laugh? real funny, stupid white girl. real real funny.’

Another blogger pointed out: ‘It may have been done in “jest,” but I love how people can can turn a black woman’s body and sexuality into a caricature. However, we should not have the autonomy to celebrate any successes of our own.

While on feministing.com, an article read: ‘Given the history and current-day context of racialized standards of beauty, and the hypersexualization of people of color, when a white woman makes fun of a black women’s body, especially in a way that hypersexualizes her and draws on the stereotype of black women’s big butts, it’s racist.’ – mailonline.com