No, it has taken them way longer to get the endorsement deals that other tennis players of their status (or lessor) have gotten, although they have won more prize money. Also, it was just a few months ago that an announcer in Australia commented on Serena's butt. I do believe that they have had to work much harder to get coverage than if they were blonde with blue eyes.

Well, I remember when Venus won her first Wimbledon title, an enormous feat, considering her age, and she barely got any coverage. It was all about her male counterpart and you can say that can be more sexist than racist but I remember how the media would fawn over Steffi Graf and I couldn't even find Venus's post championship press interview. I think these girls have faced a lot of prejudice and if sometimes they seem to have a chip on their shoulders that's understandable.

Mr Williams is not being paranoid. I'm British (black) and the Williams' have not been treated very well when they have played at Wimbledon or by the British media. They have been booed at Wimbledon and face constant criticism about ruining the game by being too strong and heavy handed and hitting the balls too hard, even though other players do the same. The Williams' winning Wimbledon on numberous occasions has been viewed by some as a bad thing which is strange. They definitely have faced prejudice.

Stereohyped, yup. You been livin' in a bubble. If you watch any tennis at all, you would know that the press can't stand the Williams sisters. I've been through a million remotes because I've thrown so many at the tv listening to the haters call the girls' matches. It is a testament to their self esteem and self love that they can continue to concentrate and win titles. Black gossip sites that mock them..um..don't help either.

I don't think having their father say things like, "white no-good trasher" is helping their cause. He's ignorant. If you want to be treated fairly it would probably help not to make racist statements yourself.

Double standard much?

Definitely a difference in treatment. Their dad, while not someone I might want to have over for dinner, is reacting to the racism (reactionaries are not people to envy or admire) that already exists. But, yeah, he could have been clearer: I don't know what he means by "white no-good trasher."

Lola, You're quite right, there was an argument circulating amongst the press corps, that having the Williams sisters so dominant wasn't good for tennis, there were even rumours that the sisters were taking steroids, even though they were always tested and found clean.
In fact I do remember a blogger named "Hingisman, who adored Martina Hingis and he pushed these false rumours and had the most negative things to say about the sisters UNTIL, Martina Hingis was found to be the one taking steroids, I had told him so months before she was caught and he scoffed at it.

But there was one columnist named Jon Werthiem he always gave the Williams sisters good press, he even took on his fellow columnists bias against them.
TRIVIA:
Venus Williams was once booed at a Tennis opening match in Long Island, New York because the American spectators wanted to show their support for the Russian player.

I've noticed a trend in tennis since the late nineties. when i was little, tennis players looked like athletes. now they look like tiny blond toothpicks who are so undernourished they can hardly swing a racket. except, of course, the williamses. they are biggish ladies, especially for tennis, and you can tell they work out. that really can't help them either, since they can't do the same cute little girl look or wear the same trashy clothes (though god help her serena tries) as the others. it's a shame their games went to crap, although i hear they're doing better now?