Waxing on about Wozniacki: Let's all calm down

The keeper of the Spin will first add to the chorus: I do not believe Caroline Wozniacki's actions at the exhibition match in Brazil were racist, classless, or a flurry of other words ending in -ist and -less. Maybe poorly considered, but a lot of actions and words come out off the cuff during these charity hits. For one, recall the Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras dust-up at the Hit for Haiti match in 2010. Or even consider Kim Clijsters' own invocation of Serena Williams (and her notorious foot-fault incident at the 2009 U.S. Open) at the December 2011 Diamond Games, in a doubles encounter with ... Wozniacki.

Note also that Venus Williams herself just played against (and lost to) Clijsters in the Belgian's final farewell match at that same event, but one year later. The Williams clan is not hounded by such trivial matters; they have withstood far worse brushes with truly nasty foes. Away from the court. Away from the appearance dollars. In real life. As it is lately, Serena is in Abu Dhabi, smiling on a kneeling camel while wearing bright colors. She can't be bothered.

No doubt this latest episode provides something of an education for Wozniacki. One hopes that, with her busy schedule of statement making and exhibitionism in this off-season, she will be ready to churn out a few statements on court in the 2013 season. She talks some fine game, mostly away from tennis. But it's then, in the heat of battle beginning Down Under, that she will need to begin speaking mightily with her racquet, as her 2012 campaign was a resounding dud. (All of two small, late-breaking titles after the U.S. Open hardly cut it for a one-time No. 1 star.) As Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim so aptly put it: "The verdict here: Cut Wozniacki a break. Save the charges of "racism" for uglier incidents. Consider Serena's good-natured response. Consider the context. As for Wozniacki, here's a tip: Save the imitations of Serena's butt and chest. Impersonate her serve and groundstrokes instead."

This matter became fodder for the women of <em>The View</em>, who sought to take it to the next level, as is their wont. Said Whoopi Goldberg of Serena: "You can make as much fun as you want. She's still gonna beat your ass." Goldberg made a good point here in noting that, as Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic and even Wozniacki herself have sent up Serena's assets on the exo scene before, there's just something about this superstar that all the rest of the contemporaries in her sport, in her personal sphere, and in this world are simply drawn to, for better or worse. If imitation remains the sincerest form of flattery, Serena Williams' cup spilleth over.

The same response that I periodically have for agitated, even vitriolic commenters on this website is the same that I have now: A lot of people would do well to just calm down. It has been unsurprising to see scads of typical, malicious comments about both Wozniacki and Serena spring up around the web due to this incident. An unfortunate event became a sort of pseudo-fracas. With hope, you who read this are able to be respectful and not call names and not twist words and actions for your own purposes in real time, face to face with friends, foes, and strangers. Try doing the same on the Internet.

Own your words. Own your actions. Heaven knows Wozniacki won't do this again.  

—Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)