When you think about it, and actually sit through and watch an entire post-match press conference, it's amazing that Serena Williams didn't crack years ago.
The 34-year-old tennis star, poised to become only the fourth female player in history to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles in one calendar year, finally broke it to the media on Tuesday night that their questions were getting a little...repetitive. Not to mention ridiculous, but we'll get to that.
No question, Williams is nonstop entertainment on the tennis court, whether she's serving 120 miles per hour, getting ready to put an opponent away or giving that joyful little hop once she's added yet another trophy to what must be a vault by now.
Her moody side, meanwhile, is also pretty entertaining, and over the years we've seen her smash the occasional racket, frown through post-match pressers and, in 2009, she actually lost a U.S. Open semifinal because she lost her temper.
But she's maintained her cool for the most part, amiably sitting down with the media, win or lose, as most athletes are required to do these days or else risk being fined by their respective leagues or associations. In fact, Williams and sister Venus did skip a post-match interview after losing their quarterfinal doubles match at Wimbledon in 2010 and were fined $4,000 each.
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Seriously, could you imagine being asked annoying, seemingly endless questions about the last thing you want to talk about, on a regular basis, as part of your job? (White House press secretary aside. We're assuming Josh Earnest loves his job.)
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At Wimbledon this year, when the international media pounced for the umpteenth time about her quest for the Grand Slam, she finally cut them off at the pass. "I'm not answering any more questions about the Grand Slam or the alleged Serena Slam." Hands off the table.
Asked on Tuesday night why, of all things, she wasn't smiling after toppling Venus in straight sets in their quarterfinal match at the U.S. Open, Williams fired back, "To be perfectly honest with you, I don't want to be here. I just want to be in bed right now and I have to wake up early to practice and I don't want to answer any of these questions. And you keep asking me the same questions. It's not really ... you're not making it super enjoyable."
Williams next plays in the semifinals on Friday. Her Thursday match was postponed due to rain.