It’s the only US/UK “special relationship” we care about right now: two inspiring tennis legends coming together to play their first mixed doubles match.
Serena Williams and Andy Murray have dominated their sports, each making awe-inspiring comebacks; him after injury and her after giving birth. The Scottish star has won three Grand Slam titles, while queen Serena has taken an incredible 23.
But it’s their efforts to champion gender quality off the court that have made them two of our favourite players of all time. In interview after interview, the pair have shown respect for the sport, each other and all genders.
As we wait for Friday’s match – taking place after 5.30pm, details TBC – here are seven of their most iconic feminist moments.
[Read More: The line for Wimbledon tickets is the most British thing ever]
1. When Serena refused to let anyone undermine her achievements.
After Serena dominated during Wimbledon 2016, a reporter asked her: “There will be talk about you going down as one of the greatest female athletes of all time. What do you think when you hear someone talk like that?”
Her flawless reply? “I prefer the word one of the greatest ‘athletes’ of all time.”
2. When Andy wrote an essay about equality in sport.
After years of championing female tennis stars, Andy published an essay for the BBC about the importance of gender equality in all sports.
“People often underestimate the amount of work that it takes to become a top tennis player,” he wrote. “And that work ethic is the same whether you are a man or a woman.
“Anyone who has spent any time with any of the top women will know that they make those same sacrifices and are as determined and committed to winning as any of the top men on the tour.”
3. When Serena tackled sexism with tennis balls.
In a hilarious video for Glamour magazine, the tennis star served up a healthy dose of revenge for all the sexist comments women in sport receive – from the annoying “You should smile more”, to the infuriating “You’re really talented, for a girl”.
In the clip, Serena vented her anger by pelting tennis balls at a fake heckler. “I’m here to express some of the frustrations I have about the obnoxious things men sometimes say about women,” she said. “I’m doing this for all of womenkind… and I’m kind of doing it a little bit for me too.”
3. When Andy stood up for Ada Hegerberg.
When footballer Ada Hegerberg was named the first ever winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or in December 2018, event host DJ Martin Solveig asked her to twerk on stage when she accepted her award. Hegerberg said she wasn’t offended, but that didn’t stop Andy posting to his Instagram Story about the incident.
“Another example of the ridiculous sexism that still exists in sport,” he said. “Why do women still have to put up with that shit? What questions did they ask Mbappe and Modric? I’d imagine something to do with football.
“And to everyone who thinks people are overreacting and it was just a joke… it wasn’t. I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”
4. When Serena said she was ‘proud’ to be a feminist.
While pregnant with her daughter, Alexis Olympia, Serena said she was “proud” to call herself a feminist, adding that she wanted to make an equal world for the next generation.
“There are barriers I hope to break so my baby, whether boy or girl, won’t have to live under those stipulations,” she told Stella magazine.
“I definitely am a feminist. I like to stick up for women and women’s rights. So many things happen and I just think ‘Wow, why don’t we have a chance?’ If that makes me a feminist, I am proud to be one.”
5. When Andy called out sexism aimed at his coach.
When Andy first announced he’d be working with female coach Amélie Mauresmo (who trained with him for two years), the response was atrocious – and he was having none of it.
He told ELLE magazine: “I got a message from one of the players who is now coaching. He said to me: ‘I love this game that you’re playing with the press, maybe you should tell them tomorrow that you’re considering working with a dog’.
“The amount of criticism she got in comparison to any other coach I’ve ever worked with – it’s not comparable at all. Now, when I lose a match, I get the blame. When I was working with her, it was always her fault.”
6. When Serena called out double standards.
Serena was penalised three times during the US Open final in 2018, and eventually lost the match to Naomi Osaka.
Things got heated between Serena and judge Carlos Ramos, who initially penalised her for supposedly receiving a hand gesture instruction from her coach. “I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose,” she said. When Ramos penalised her again with a point penalty for breaking her racket, Serena retorted by calling him a “thief”.
Their dispute was later turned into a cartoon that many accused of being “sexist” and “racist”. In a press conference interview, Serena pointed out the doubles standards in tennis.
“I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things, and I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality,” she said. “For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game? … It was a sexist remark. He’s never took a game from a man because they said ‘thief’. For me, it blows my mind. But I’m going to continue to fight for women.”
7. When Andy reminded John Inverdale about Venus and Serena.
Andy was quick to correct John Inverdale during a live interview at Rio 2016, after the BBC presenter inferred he was the first person to win two Olympic gold medals.
“I think Venus and Serena have won about four each,” he said, having just defeated Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro.