Larry Brown Sports

Caroline Wozniacki was accused of being racist when she stuffed her chest and behind in an attempt to imitate Serena Williams during a recent exhibition tennis match.

Williams, who calls the Danish tennis player a friend, has responded and indicated she did not find the imitation to be racist.

“I know Caro and I would call her my friend and I don’t think she (meant) anything racist by it,” Williams told USA Today over email.

“(Roddick) and (Djokovic) do it all the time and Caro does (it) and now it’s racist.??” she wrote. “At the end of the day I spend my time focused on things to become better and not bring me down.”

Though Williams does not believe the imitation is racist, she thinks her impersonators might be wise to shelve the act given the backlash.

“I must add if people feel this way she should take reason and do something different next time,” she said.

Maybe Serena’s comments on the matter will serve as a cue for people to drop the racism accusations. Like she referenced in her emails, nobody called it racist when Andy Roddick did the same thing last year, or when Wozniacki did it last time.

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Caroline Wozniacki busting out her Serena Williams impression, complete with a stuffed shirt and some butt enhancements. Over the weekend, Woz stuffed her clothes during a match against Maria Sharapova and paraded around as if she were Serena. She pulled the same stunt last year at this time and the crowd seemed to enjoy it then as well. Shockingly, Sharapova won the match 6-2 7-6.

I’m still going to give the nod to Andy Roddick when it comes to Serena impressions, simply because it’s just that much funnier to see a guy execute it. For whatever reason, tennis players seem to love impersonating each other. Serena is one of the most popular targets, but she can rest assured knowing that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

A report came out two weeks ago saying that Serena Williams was dating her coach, Patrick Mouratouglou, after photos were published showing the two awfully cozy on the street. Even though Williams and Mouratouglou were photographed with arms around one another, and Serena had her hand down Patrick’s back pocket, the tennis star is trying to tell us that they’re not dating.

More pictures of the two together have been published, including ones of them out shopping and Mouratouglou holding Serena’s purse. But if you think they’re dating, you’ve got the wrong idea, says Serena. Check out this tweet she sent on Sunday:

Dear camera man in Milan please stop following my around! Your pictures will have people assuming false things!!!! Ugh #OverIt

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 23, 2012

You got that? It’s the photographers’ fault that we’re all thinking they’re dating. I mean who would honestly get that idea after seeing Serena put her hand on her coach’s behind? Shame on us for making that improbable leap.

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After her disappointing loss in the first round of the French Open back in April (during which she was an emotional wreck), Serena Williams began working with a new coach in France. In the process, she may also have found herself a new boyfriend.

Serena and Patrick Mouratouglou were recently spotted in France together looking like far more than just a teacher and his pupil. As you can see from these photos that were posted on the French website PK Tennis, Williams and Mouratouglou were walking down the streets of Paris with their arms around each other. At one point, Serena even had her hand in Mouratouglou’s back pocket. Saucy!

Last week, Mouratouglou told the Gettysburg Times (via the Detroit Free Press) how his professional relationship with Williams began.

“She said, ‘I want to win Wimbledon, I want to start now,’” he explained. “That’s simple. That’s how it started.”

The interesting thing here is that all we ever hear from Serena is how she doesn’t do relationships. Since the beginning of the year, she has talked about how she hasn’t been on a date in forever, how she is totally done dating and how she plays better when she’s single. Maybe dating someone who helps you with tennis eliminates all those concerns?

H/T On the Go Tennis

Ever since breaking up with Common, Serena Williams seems to have had a pretty quiet dating life. She claimed in January that she hadn’t been on a date in forever, and she said in April that she was done dating.

Could that be by design?

Williams rallied to beat Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open on Sunday — her 15th major — and she said on Monday that she actually plays better when she’s single.

“If I’m in a relationship, I’m fine; I do well. But I feel like when I’m out, I’m angry and I do even better,” Williams said with a laugh, according to The Associated Press. “I don’t know what’s better for me. It’s a win-win situation.”

So it’s either play well and be happy with a mate in her personal life, or be single, angry, and just dominate at tennis. Yup, sounds like she’s winning either way.

You might be wondering what prompted the dating topic, and it seems like it came up because of Maria Sharapova’s breakup. Serena even revealed that she went through a breakup last winter, though she kept the boyfriend’s identity private.

It’s pretty surprising that Serena says she was in a relationship because she claimed in January she hadn’t been on a date in forever. As for who the guy was, we have a few ideas. She and rapper Drake were said to be dating before having what many speculated was a painful breakup. And if she wasn’t referring to Common or Drake, then maybe she was talking about this guy.

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Three weeks after Serena Williams celebrated winning a gold medal at the Olympics by doing a gangster dance, her impromptu jig is still a topic of conversation. The only difference is that Williams no longer wants to address it.

Asked by a U.S. Open reporter if she had any regrets about doing the celebratory “Crip Walk,” (which was technically actually a blood walk), Williams essentially told the reporter to talk to the hand.

“First of all, it was just a dance,” she said, via Reuters. “I didn’t know that’s what it was called. Second, why are you asking me that? Like that’s so … I mean, if anything you should be trying to ask me questions to lift me up, not bring up such things. I’m done with that question.”

I don’t recall lifting up athletes being part of the media’s job, but I guess we can agree to disagree on that point.

Williams also says she wasn’t aware of the criticism she received for the dance.

“I read zero press,” Williams said. “That has been my policy since I was 17. I don’t know what was made too much of or whether it was too little. I think winning the Olympics was awesome for me and for the USA.”

I’m surprised Williams’ nose didn’t grow based on that response. Like we’re buying it.

All talk about the role of the media aside — and I can assure you Serena, it’s not the press’ job to build you up — this C-Walk nonsense has gone way too far. As I said in my original post on the matter, Williams seemed to be doing the dance as a fun-spirited celebration, not because she wanted to share a worldwide message that she endorses murders, robberies, beatings, and anything else associated with gang life. The media should act accordingly and let the matter go.

H/T Sports by Brooks Live

Serena Williams caused a mini-controversy when she celebrated winning a gold medal in the women’s singles at the London Olympics with a gangster dance.

The dance, which has been referred to as a “crip walk,” was technically more likely a “blood walk.” Regardless, she was flogged by many for her celebration.

Williams said at the time that the dance was not planned, though she acknowledged it was somewhat inappropriate. Now she really doesn’t care what her critics have to say.

“It’s getting so much attention,” Williams told Us Weekly Monday in London. “It just happened. I was so excited that it just came out,” she said, laughing. “I guess I’m good at it!”

Asked about her critics, Williams responded “I don’t care. That’s the least of my worries … I’m so excited I was able to do the dance. I’m glad I did it!”

Williams seemed to be proud about doing the dance considering she pointed to her family after breaking it out. The dance was a nod to her Compton, Ca., roots, and it’s so mainstream by now I really don’t even think about its gangster ties when I see it. I’m also guessing Serena didn’t do it because she endorses the killing, stealing, and violence associated with the gangster life. She looked to me like someone just having fun and celebrating.

Still, this isn’t the first time Serena has caused a controversy by exercising some poor judgment and then expressed little regret. That’s just the way she is.