"I'm not a fan of any umpire": Venus Williams says Vallejo's French Open sexism comments were wrong but offers candid take

Venus Williams admitted that while Adolfo Daniel Vallejo's take surrounding female umpires was wrong that she isn't a fan of any umpire whatsoever so while it wasn't the right time or place to have such a move, she understands the disdain towards umpires.

Vallejo opined: "Matches like this have to be umpired by a man; it’s very difficult for a woman to do it." This after his five-set loss to Moise Kouame at Roland Garros. He said that Brazillian umpire Ana Carvalho was unable to keep a lid on the rowdy French crowd and it should've been a man umpiring it. But he was then fined $65,000.

Williams spoke to Grazia recently and discussed a multitude of topics including Serena Williams return and also separating home and work life from each other.

‘I always let her make her own decisions.’ she said on Serena's return to Grazia. ‘Even when she stopped playing the first time, she was the best in the world. There is no doubt. And even now, she has the potential – and she does, if she wanted to. It’s about support – watching, waiting, seeing what happens and then just being her biggest cheerleader.’

"No matter what you do, you have to leave the work behind at some point and be human. Separating those two has helped us understand where ambition lies and what it means. The people closest to you are the easiest to shut out or to get rough with. But those are the ones you can damage the most. So we’re always very careful about that, making sure home is always a place we can go to. Because out on the streets, it’s hard. The last thing you want is to come home and it’s hard too."

She then touched on the Vallejo situation and said that he has to learn but also that she does have sympathy due to her own disdain for umpires. "He probably shouldn’t have spoken after such an emotional match. Perhaps there’s a moment of learning there. But I’m not a fan of any umpire. I don’t think any player really loves umpires – male or female. It’s just that you can’t let it go that far."

Suffering with a strict autoimmune diet, she recently got married and said that she will allow herself to eat pasta and especially in Italy. "I’ve never wanted to let myself eat pasta,’ she says. ‘But this year I’ll have a chance to go to Italy more – and just eat the pasta."

While she also touched upon an unexpected passion they both have for escape rooms and how she feels about getting older.

‘I was doing escape rooms on dates and every time I mentioned it the whole air went flat. Finally, I told him, “I go do escape rooms,” and he said, “You’re kidding. I love them!”’

Everything’s changing,’ she concludes. ‘But I feel good about myself. I don’t mind getting older, things changing, as long as I’m strong and healthy. If you take care of yourself, you’ll be happy with what you have. As long as I do that, I think I’ll be really happy. But if I don’t – I’m coming for myself.’