. . . 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"
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.
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