[Acey]

Tennis’s Top Women Balance Body Image With Ambition

Christ help me I don't even. Oh my.

“My arms are really fit, but I wanted to cover them, because when I do people don’t recognize me as much,” [Serena] said.

Williams, who will be vying for the Wimbledon title against Garbiñe Muguruza on Saturday, has large biceps and a mold-breaking muscular frame, which packs the power and athleticism that have dominated women’s tennis for years. Her rivals could try to emulate her physique, but most of them choose not to.

“It’s our decision to keep her as the smallest player in the top 10,” said Tomasz Wiktorowski, the coach of Agnieszka Radwanska, who is listed at 5 feet 8 and 123 pounds. “Because, first of all she’s a woman, and she wants to be a woman.”

For many, perceived ideal feminine body type can seem at odds with the best physique for tennis success. Andrea Petkovic, a German ranked 14th, said she particularly loathed seeing pictures of herself hitting two-handed backhands, when her arm muscles appear the most bulging.

“I just feel unfeminine,” she said.

For the people who say women deserve less prize money... the fact that women are intentionally not being the best players they can be gives them a damn good reason to say the things they do. What an embarrassment.