By Bill Simons
Serena and Venus Williams have been boycotting the extraordinary BNP Paribas tournament in Indian Wells since 2002. Today, some observers feel if they ever went back to the desert, they would probably be embraced with a warm reception—a reconciliation which could transcend the game and be an extraordinary moment in their careers and in American sport.
It would be quite a signal.
In light of this, and in the context of all the recent commentary on the legacy of forgiveness of Nelson Mandela, Inside Tennis had this dialogue with Serena, after her second-round win over Daniela Hantuchova.
INSIDE TENNIS: You love to laugh, but you also have a serious side. You have those schools you created in Africa, you have written about the [slave] forts, and have read Mandela closely. Mandela’s message was pretty much [one of] forgiveness and reconciliation. He put his longtime jailer in the front row at his inauguration. Do you think that spirit could affect your thoughts about what happened in the desert [in 2002, when she was jeered throughout a two-hour final]? There is a whole new generation of people who would love to see you out there. Would that ever cross your mind as a possibility?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it actually crossed my mind a couple days ago, or after I saw the movie [Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom].
IT: It would be such a wonderful event for American tennis and for your career. Do you think that’s something you might consider in the future?
SW: Like I said, it crossed my mind not too long ago when I went to see the movie. I thought about it.
IT:: And your thoughts on that movie? Pretty strong, hey?
SW: Right now I don’t know. I just have to focus on this tournament. But I think Mandela was a really amazing man. I felt really honored to have a chance to meet him, get to know him a little bit, and get to know his story a little better.
