Serena Williams Loses, Blame Game Starts, 'Boyfriend' Drake Bears the Brunt
Rapper Drake may not have a good track record with teams he cheers for. It took a turn for a lot worse after Serena Williams lost her US Open 2015 women's semifinal despite his encouragement from the stands.
Serena Williams may feel that she was outclassed by a much more determined opponent in her US Open women's singles semifinal on Friday night. Some of her fans though are convinced the World No. 1's shock loss had more to do with rumoured boyfriend Drake than the skills of her Italian opponent Roberta Vinci. (In pics: Why Serena failed to fly high in US Open 2015 semis)
Vinci ended Serena's dream of achieving a career slam by defeating her 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. It also brought an end to Serena's 33-match US Open win streak and 27-match Grand Slam win streak, leaving most fans in despair and sending a few into a frenzied hunt for someone to blame. The most 'obvious?' Rapper Drake - Serena's 'love interest', who was present at the Flushing Meadows and was seen cheering the American.
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I blame Drake.
- Hunter Walker (@hunterw) September 11, 2015
Wherever drake cheers, losing follows. The curse continues. #SerenaWilliams pic.twitter.com/ecQ5M3QU6q
- t?e ????? ??O? (@lucasbros) September 11, 2015
Twitter was abuzz with Serena fans highlighting how Drake should never support the tennis superstar - especially due to his past 'record' of cheering teams only for them to lose. After all, Drake was indeed appointed ambassador of Toronto Raptors in 2013 - only for the team to crash out of that season. After all, it was indeed conveyed to him by the University of Kentucky's basketball team that it did not want him supporting them. Clearly, if superstition was a defining element in sport, the rapper is one fan no one would desire.
Not everyone though was involved in the blame game after Williams' loss. Several - including United States First Lady Michelle Obama, congratulated her for what has been an outstanding year on the court. Even Serena's coach, while admitting Serena was under pressure, hailed her for her sublime tennis. "We can say that the pressure of this tournament was enormous and this was a match which she managed less well than the others," said French coach Patrick Mouratogloua. "(However) "After her career, what we will remember isn't that she didn't win the Grand Slam. We will say that she is the greatest champion of all time." (Read more here)
So proud of you, @SerenaWilliams. What you did this year was amazing. -mo #USOpen2015
- The First Lady (@FLOTUS) September 11, 2015
Mouratogloua may well be proven right as there have been several partners who have been blamed for the occasional failure of renowned sportspersons - only for them to emerge even greater. Cricketer Virat Kohli and girlfriend Anushka Sharma were the latest example when the Bollywood actress was blamed for distracting Kohli, which in turn 'caused' India's World Cup semifinal defeat against Australia. The World Cup ouster has since begun fading from memory and Kohli has emerged from being a strong player to a strong captain - leading India to a Test series win in Sri Lanka for the first time since 1993.