I was watching Serena Williams playing fellow American Christina McHale

[malaise]

and nearly dropped to the ground when I heard the male commentator refer to the American getting the better of Serena.
Serena won 7-6;2-6; 6-4. That's why we need BLM. Serena isn't American enough apparently. Go Serena- we want 22

[busterbrown]

1. Well she might have..

In the second set.....No?

Serena is the greatest American Female Tennis player ever..by far...

[malaise]

2. No - there were two Americans playing

if he had said McHale was getting the better of Serena, there would be no need for this thread. Christina played her best game ever today.

[busterbrown]

6. Holy Shit..

Never realized it.. Just thought the commentator didn’t know Tennis...

Who was it? Most of the time they are pretty good..Chrissie?

[malaise]

9. Male commentator

Chrissie would never say that - and they are usually, but not always pretty good.

[busterbrown]

10. Mcenroe does the color..Always Great..

Play by Play guy not so.

[Travis_0004]

30. A tennis fan knows serina is american

They may have no clue where mchale is from.

[KG]

3. international event without flags, an international audience might not know mchale was an american

that would be my take.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. I didn't know, personally; when I came in during the game, I had to look McHale up

It might depend who the commentary was aimed at. If it was an American commentator for an American audience, it might seem odd, but, as you say, for an international audience, to mention the nationality of a less-known player is not at all unusual.

[malaise]

5. To say the American implied

that Serena was not American - the younger American would have been fine.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

7. Well, I didn't hear the comment . . .

. . . so I suppose I'm in no position to comment. But could it simply be that Serena Williams, having been the best, most dominate female player for so long now, essentially transcends nationality, such that the commentator was taking stock of the then-current situation involving "Serena" (i.e, transcendent "star&quot versus no-name "American opponent"?

That is, I don't see where this necessarily reflects the commentator thinking of Williams as being "not American enough," so much as her being seen as an international figure. In sport, by the time a great player is known by his or her first name (Serena, Venus, Tiger, Lebron, Michael, Phil, etc.), their identity as an American (or whatever country they may happen to hail from) tends to recede in the minds of many fans and commentator.

Just a thought.

[melman]

8. No it didn't

1. They always talk like that in tennis

2. Everyone in the fucking world knows who Serena Williams is and where she's from.

[KG]

11. word.

[uponit7771]

15. BULL FUCKIN SHIT!!! We're commonly known as the other and that's including non American.

[malaise]

16. You have time

[joeybee12]

12. Who was the guy?

I was watching ESPN before the matches started early this morning and there was some commentator in the studio who I had no idea who he was.

[malaise]

13. I still don't know

If I see the replay I'll check

[joeybee12]

14. I guess the weather has been so bad they're going to have to play on Sunday

and the traditional middle Sunday off is, well, off. Roger is the ONLY man through to the 4th round so far...tells you how backed up they are.

[malaise]

19. One of the worst first weeks in ages

rain rain rain!

[uponit7771]

17. Hmmm, everyone in the tennis community should know Serena is American... this wow...

.. wtf was the commentator thinking

[malaise]

18. It was a WTF moment for me

Seriously

[bigwillq]

20. McHale was, at times, during the match

No knock against Serena, but McHale played well.

I hope Serena wins 22.

[malaise]

21. Best match ever for Christina

She played really well. Keys is also playing well.

[a kennedy]

33. She's one of my favorites.......

was sick when she had to play Serena so early in the tournament.........but she had an awesome match. She'll be a better player for that match.

[spanone]

22. i missed that (thankfully) Serena is so good, so much fun to watch..Venus played great today too!!!

[malaise]

23. Man the rain just pelted down when Venus was on match point

Her face told it all

[spanone]

24. what a moment that was! imagine having to re-group! great win.

amazing how quick that rain fell

[malaise]

25. With some big a$$ raindrops too

It was unbelievable - her face was like where did that come from????

[a kennedy]

26. Tom Renaldi or something like that......and he's a new voice in tennis.

Does a lot of other sports, but he's new to tennis.

[malaise]

29. Thanks

Yep I did want to

[Are_grits_groceries]

27. Smh..... nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

28. The American was JUST an American. Serena belongs to the WORLD.

Your perspective is skewed.

[Marr]

31. Where was the commentator from? Was he American, or European?

[a kennedy]

32. He's from USA...... eom