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Gender Debate | 03/20/2009 8:50 am

Tennis Player Sarah Gronert in Gender Debate

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Sarah Gronert/Westfalen Tennis

A young, German tennis player’s making the world reconsider the meaning of "gender."

Sarah Gronert, 22, was born with both male and female genitalia. However, after undergoing surgery, she’s now medically — and legally — a woman. But, sadly, Gronert still endures constant scrutiny from peers and opponents’ coaches who claim Gronert should not be eligible to compete in the women’s tennis circuits.

"There is no girl who can hit serves like that, not even Venus Williams," said Schlomo Tzoref, the coach of player Julia Glushko, reports Fanhouse. Glushko lost to Gronert in a tournament in Israel in early March. "When I heard her story, I was in shock. I don’t know if it’s fair that she can compete or not. She does have an advantage, but if this is what the WTA have decided, they probably know best. If she begins to play continuously, within six months she will be within the top 50."

Gronert, ranked No. 619 in the world, considered quitting tennis at the age of 19 due to the intense ridicule. Fanhouse says the young woman’s Wikipedia profile has been taken down due to "constant abuse by users."

25 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Jean How

People need to get over themselves. There are somethings you can’t  explain, but you shouldn’t punish a child for something they were borned with.  I say let her play tennis.

Should we stick labels on different people for different things and say sorry you can’t do this because of this?  If we did that, the world would be a sad place to live in.

Sarah you have my support hon. Some people just need to go back to ettiquette school.

By Jean How on 03/20/2009 9:01 am
Ladyhawke ..
Disgusting, ignorant people!! Do some research and leave the girl alone…what idiots!
By Ladyhawke .. on 03/20/2009 9:15 am
David M. Flowers
Sarah sounds like a strong person - she should just tell ‘em all to go to hell.
By David M. Flowers on 03/20/2009 9:16 am
James the Game
I think the issue at-hand should be whether women who are good enough should be allowed to play against men. You can’t tell me that this lady or one of the Williams sisters couldn’t beat some of the lower- or medium-level men on the pro tennis circuit.
By James the Game on 03/20/2009 9:19 am
M J

James,

That idea of her playing against men might work, after all, in everyday life, some of us play against our menfolk (who like to knock it out of the fence and make it hard to keep a volley going! Sheesh… [these men are not people who know how to play! and I say that with a smile]). Otherwise, I agree with Jean, Sharon and David. Leave this woman to use her talent! It would not be right to allow her NOT to play. It was genetics that made her; she didn’t purposefully come to the world with both kinds of genitals. Finally, the WTA approves of her so she’s also passed that hurdle. Short of hiring a body guard to protect her from stupid thugs and others who would try to prevent her from playing well, I think she should just go for it and keep playing the way she’s playing. Good luck to her!
By M J on 03/20/2009 10:33 am
L. C.
This is a difficult one! Biologically does this person have an unfair advantage over female players? Physically does this person  have the strength of a man and hormonally is this person more male? Men are traditionally stronger than women. There was a transexual I believe named Renee Richardson that played tennis as a woman. There are a lot of medical issues involved here. Is this persons case similar to a woman taking steriods?
By L. C. on 03/20/2009 9:53 am
L. C.
correction————————steroids
By L. C. on 03/20/2009 10:14 am
deber B
Belinda, I knew you would be on this particular thread!  You might want to google your question to get your answer!  LOL!!!
By deber B on 03/20/2009 10:30 am
Libra Lady

Deber…great advice…just sayin’!!

By Libra Lady on 03/20/2009 10:42 am
deber B
Honestly, Libra, this impersonation thing is really sad if you think about it.
By deber B on 03/20/2009 10:47 am
Green Tears
What is this?
By Green Tears on 03/20/2009 12:46 pm
deber B
Occasionally we have posters who leave this site and return as someone else.   The problem with that is that they can change their name but cannot change their style of expressing themselves.   It happens alot on this site. 
By deber B on 03/20/2009 1:09 pm
Green Tears

So ‘internet sleuth’ is also a line on your resume? What is your opinion on people feeling the need to do this?

By Green Tears on 03/20/2009 1:16 pm
deber B
No, Green Tears, I am not an internet sleuth.   When waddles and quacks it’s a duck.   I have no opinion of people who do this….none whatsoever.   I was stating an observation and feeling sad for that particular person.
By deber B on 03/20/2009 1:26 pm
Green Tears
Thanks, deber. It takes a lot of energy just to be one person, never mind multiple identities. I don’t see the point or the need.
By Green Tears on 03/20/2009 3:18 pm