us open Archives - Rolling Out

Former US Open champion Naomi Osaka is preparing for another run a the prestigious tournament she won in 2018 and will do so with a targeted purpose. Upon arrival at her first-round matchup, where she dispatched Misaki Doi on Monday, Aug. 31, she approached the winner’s circle with a desire to share some context regarding her…

Leslé Honoré is a mother, the executive director of The K.L.E.O. Center nonprofit, and a renowned poet from Chicago. The third achievement recently garnered Honoré national attention as she wrote a piece shedding light on a national conversation about race and toxic masculinity. Honore just released a poem that was shared 71K times on Facebook. It speaks…

An Australian newspaper cartoonist is incurring the righteous wrath of the international community after he drew an image of Serena Williams as a monstrous, beastly looking figure in the aftermath of her bitter argument during the U.S. Open Grand Slam. Herald-Sun cartoonist Mark Knight’s image shows a hulking, muscular, grotesque depiction of Williams stomping her…

Kamau Murray and Sloane Stephens celebrate her win (Photo by Derrel Johnson for Steed Media Service)

Sloane Stephens defeated fellow American Madison Keys on Saturday to win the 2017 US Open, her first career grand slam championship. After she spoke to the media, she posed for pictures with her coach, Kamau Murray, who was also given a Tiffany’s trophy, the first of its kind. Rolling out spoke exclusively to Murray about…

Venus Williams is focused on another US Open title (Photo by Twitter @usopen )

The story of the tennis career of Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of perseverance. There is a high level of adversity that Venus and her younger sister Serena had to overcome to make it out of Compton, California to the top of the tennis world. But a little over six years ago, unexpected adversity…

Naomi Osaka celebrating on the tennis court (Photo courtesy of Twitter @usopen)

As I was watching Naomi Osaka play Denisa Allertova in the second round of the 2017 US Open two days after she defeated the 2016 US Open Champion Angelique Kerber in the first round, I noticed something not too common: a very diverse crowd cheering for the same player. The 19-year old daughter of a…

Is Madison Keys the next American tennis star? (Photo by Derrel Jazz Johnson for Steed Media Service)

“I think right now Madison is probably leading the pack with the new young Americans doing well,” Serena Williams said of 21-year old tennis player Madison Keys, joining a group of tennis pundits who believe in Keys’ potential. Is Keys the next American tennis superstar?” Rolling out had the opportunity to ask Keys what she…

Donald Young, a 26-year-old Black tennis player, pulled off a major upset at the 2015 U.S. Open when he defeated No. 11 seed Giles Simon of France. Young lost the first two sets and was down 0-3 in the third set before winning the match, 2-g, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a three hour, 34-minute thriller. “I…

Serena Williams (Photo by Marc Rasbury)

When Caroline Wozniacki’s return landed out Sunday night, Serena Williams collapsed to the court in celebration as the reality of her victory began to sink in. Williams captured the 2014 U.S. Open championship, her third straight and sixth U.S. Open championship overall, which took her to a career total to 18 Grand Slam titles. After…

Former boxing champion Laila Ali was at the US Open on Labor Day and was asked what tennis player would she like to get in the ring with and train to box. The answer is who many would have anticipated. If Ali had to train one tennis player to box, who would she choose? “If…

Filmmaker and devoted sports fan Spike Lee was at the 2014 US Open on Labor Day to take in some matches and rolling out spoke exclusively with the proud Brooklyn native. When asked about his most memorable moments watching tennis, Spike gave a very simple answer. “Serena! Serena and Venus to me,” he said,…

Serena Williams has won three matches already in pursuit of her third-straight US Open title, which would be her 18th Grand Slam title overall. She is motivated by many things and has always been a fashionista in the tennis world, wearing countless stylish ensembles. Williams wore a leopard print outfit in her win Saturday against fellow…

Serena Williams, who I fittingly refer to as “the queen of tennis” is just that. She has won 17 Grand Slam titles in singles and 13 more in doubles with her older sister, Venus Williams. Add to that the four Olympic gold medals that she has won, tied for the most in tennis with…

Madison Keys

Even though she lost at the US Open yesterday in the second round, 19-year-old African American tennis star Madison Keys is on the rise. She is certainly a player to watch in the near future. Here are five things you should know about Keys. Madison Keys first made news at the age of 14, when…

Taylor Townsend and Serena Williams

Taylor Townsend needed to do the nearly impossible on Aug. 26 when she faced the No. 1 woman tennis player in the world and fellow American Serena Williams at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the first round of the 2014 U.S. Open. Why was it nearly impossible? Serena has now won 56 of 57 first-round matches…

Venus Wiiliams with her father Richard and sister Serena

Venus Williams took the court on opening day of the 2014 U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium on what would have been the 87th birthday of black tennis pioneer Althea Gibson. Rolling out asked Williams about that significance. “What she accomplished is something no one else did, to be not only the best player in…

Serena Williams aims to dominate at the US Open once again (photo by Marc Rasbury)

Serena Williams, who has won the last two U.S. Open Women’s Championships, spoke to the media in advance of the start of the tournament on Monday. Once again, Williams enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and the favorite to win. A victory would give her 18 Grand Slam titles for her career. Williams discussed…

While Serena Williams and her sister Venus play to win at the 2013 US Open, we’ve noticed that Serena has had a very eventful year. Whether she’s on the court, on the red carpet, or promoting a new product, Williams has been showing off more of her fashionable and sexy personality. Take a look at…

Celebrities spotted at the 2013 US Open A bevy of celebrities have been spotted at the US Open this week where Serena Williams has been dominating in her matches. Williams rejoiced over a 6-0, 6-3 victory over fifth-seeded Li Na of China this week. She will return for the finals Sunday at New York’s Flushing Meadows and face…

Serena Williams continues to demonstrate why she is the best in the world (though she is not currently ranked #1). She beat Victoria Azarenka (who is ranked #1 in the world) in 3 sets, 6-2, 2-6, and finished her off in a close 7-5 match. In addition to the US Open, she has already won…