Masha Fante
According to UK company YouGov, a global public opinion and data company which specializes in polling and sampling, 12% of men from Great Britain believe they could win a point in a game of tennis against Serena Williams.
Yes, the Serena Williams, winner of 23 grand slam singles titles and arguably the best athlete to have ever lived.
One in eight men (12%) say they could win a point in a game of tennis against 23 time grand slam winner Serena Williams https://t.co/q0eNBjn7Vu pic.twitter.com/3InBOWdYwh
— YouGov (@YouGov) July 12, 2019
YouGov questioned 1732 men on July 12, noting that “results are weighted to be representative of the GB population.” For the record, only 3% of women said they’d be able to do the same.
Naturally, Twitter was left in tears. Partly because we should all, one day, be so lucky as to have the confidence of 12% of men, and partly because it is a known fact that zero percent of non-professionals could even return a Serena serve—let alone take a point off her.
Confident in my ability to properly tennis, I take the court. I smile at my opponent. Serena does not return the gesture. She'd be prettier if she did, I think. She serves. The ball passes cleanly through my skull, killing me instantly https://t.co/Tqptbh0vOp
— Jason (@longwall26) July 12, 2019
I would like to see this poll retaken with the caveat that if one fails to score a point, Serena gets to kick one in the junk.
— Christopher McQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) July 13, 2019
I would also donate 30% of my salary to a charity of Serena’s choice to see this event televised. https://t.co/GH7plVnyn3
these 1 in 8 men who think they could score on Serena Williams are like dudes who think they could take a single punch from Tyson in his prime. Williams would destroy you and Tyson would kill you. https://t.co/BGYhl5xn02
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) July 12, 2019
I have worked with every single one of these men https://t.co/O2mmn7Tumk
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) July 13, 2019
not even gonna see that ball go by you, fellas https://t.co/poKATtSIMA
— Crewman Number Guy (@Atrios) July 12, 2019
In fact, this poll should kickstart a reality show where men who are confident in their ability to beat a professional woman at her own game are forced to do so, in front of all their family and friends. I’d certainly tune in.
Lest y’all forgot: At this year’s Wimbledon, Serena hit a 122-mph serve and returned a 138-mph serve. Try your luck, fellas!!!
A television show where Serena spends an hour each week drilling these dudes in the beans with serves that they had no hope of returning anyway https://t.co/P7jPTzvF9l
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) July 12, 2019
To underscore the insanity of these poll results, Alexis Ohanian—cofounder of Reddit and husband of Serena—wrote: “Classic Dunning-Kruger effect mixed with sexism. Not even 1 million people (men and women) play tennis twice a month in the UK,” alongside a link citing the statistics. “And with 66 million people in the UK, that means 1.5% of the entire UK can even serve the ball in play…at best.”
Classic Dunning-Kruger effect mixed with sexism. Not even 1M people (Men and Women) play tennis twice a month in the UK. https://t.co/hvmV4wFULg and with 66M people in the UK, that means 1.5% of the entire UK can even serve the ball in play... at best. https://t.co/RqFI7UQP6U
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. ? (@alexisohanian) July 13, 2019
Though Twitter mayor/darling Chrissy Teigen offers a pretty compelling point as well:
please @serenawilliams WE NEED TO SEE THIS please please please I would like to cry of laughter https://t.co/DL5blewKQK
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 12, 2019
In conclusion, my former point: ESPN, kindly make this a pay-per-view event and take all of my money.