Dear Coco, You Were Right.
Alexandra Stevenson is a professional tennis player, formerly No. 18 in the world and a Wimbledon semifinalist. She is currently the host of Bleav's podcast Serving Aces: Conversations with Alexandra Stevenson.
Dear Coco,
You were right.
Let’s set the scene.
This past week, at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Coco Gauff was at 4-2 in the second set against Karolina Pliskova. Coco heard the chair umpire Pierre Bacchi, call the Pliskova serve out at deuce - but only after Pliskova returned serve in the net.
It was a late call - and Coco should have gotten the point. Instead she had to play the point over.
Coco went to Bacchi at the umpire stand - and had a five minute argument about not getting the point. Coco asked for the Tour Supervisor, while Bacchi talked over Coco’s continued demands. He refused her request - and denied that he had made a late call.
It was startling to watch the social self defense coming from a young black woman, fighting for fairness in her match against Pliskova. It was startling to see Coco repeat over and over - to get the tour supervisor - and Bacchi over and over, refusing.
Bacchi’s official behavior was publicly disrespectful - and he put himself in the white man’s historic role of putting down a young black woman. There were plenty of violations in that five minute argument, all from Bacchi. It was clear Coco’s rights were violated when Bacchi refused to call the Tour Supervisor.
I spent more than 20 years playing as a professional tennis player. I’ve always known I had the protection at a tournament of calling the Tour Supervisor - for any significant issue. If this was the US Open, the Tour Supervisor and the Tournament Director would have immediately arrived on court.
Donna Kelso was the Dubai Tour Supervisor. She’s been working for the WTA and the Grand Slams for at least 30 years. Where was she when Coco needed her?
Coco won the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Footage showed Bacchi made a late call. The point should have gone to Coco. Instead she replayed the point, ending the brutal argument.
It would have been refreshing to see Pliskova offer Coco vocal assistance. Surely, she knew the point was Coco’s. This week, Coco was named one of Time Magazine’s Women of the Year. Coco says she wants to fight for equality and justice. She says she wants to be on the right side of history.
Shame on Bacchi for denying Coco common courtesy - for allowing himself to be unfair. And, certainly showing off as a chauvinistic white man - who had to be right - in front of a young black woman.
Dear Coco, you were right.
