Losing with grace is in the eye of the beholder -- especially in the case of the best women's tennis player in the world.
Serena Williams has been accused of being the worst kind of sore loser by USA Today Sports' For the Win.
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In the article, Williams was criticized for her post-match interview following her semifinals loss to Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open that ended her bid to win the calendar Grand Slam.
"So when Williams was upset at the U.S. Open on Friday, by an Italian journeywoman who didn't even have betting odds on her before the tournament, she should give the press that fawns all over her the time they deserve," For the Win wrote. "Instead, Serena blew them off, going on for a few minutes before cutting them off, ending her own interview and leaving the National Tennis Center."
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The criticism comes a day after The Washington Post lauded Serena for the way she handled her post-match news conference.
"In Friday's press conference following her loss in the U.S. Open semifinals, the one that ended her hopes for a tennis Grand Slam, Williams drew a line around what was too complicated to discuss and she put it off limits," The Post reported. "Good for her."
"I don't want to talk about how disappointing it is for me," Williams said.
The Post report continued: "She dismissed the question with a quick wave of her hand. Small as it was, the gesture halted any further efforts to probe a deeply personal raw spot. Then she praised her opponent, the unseeded Italian Vinci, and called her 'inspiring.'
"It was all pretty breathtaking, what Williams did, displaying clarity, elegance and generosity in a span of 30 seconds. It was a quiet, impromptu moment of grace. It was not a picture of catastrophe."
For the Win, however, posted a chart showing how few words Williams uttered following her defeat, compared to the other U.S. Open later-round losers -- including those of sister Venus as well as Roger Federer.
Serena's U.S. Open losses in 2009 and 2011 were recounted.
For the Win added that Williams now ensures photographers see her in more staged moments, whether with her dog or best friend Caroline Wozniacki or with Kim Kardashian.
"These are all carefully choreographed media moments, intent of letting the world get to know the 'real' Serena," For the Win reported. "And that's fine. But it can't be all sunshine and positive reviews."
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