Serena was an amazing tennis player--so amazing that I forgive her her flaws--but she was pretty high on anger and entitlement. I don't like the sexism--I thought McEnroe was a jerk, not charming or edgy, and he was considerably worse (and I still haven't really forgiven him)--but you have to look long and hard before you find a female tennis player who was as prickly as Serena became (she seemed a lot more approachable when she was younger). Maybe Martina Hingis was equal or worse.

Anyway, trope or not, Serena fits the description.

Venus was always polite and charming. Coco Gauff is also delightful. Nobody uses the "angry black woman" trope on Coco, do they?

It is lovely when the GOAT is also one of the nicest of all time, as with Federer (and Nadal, to a lesser but still considerable extent). Alas, we didn't get both with Serena, at least not all the way throughout her career. But she still was the GOAT, so hats off to her.

(Note: I do not follow basketball at all so I can't comment on that side of things--but I object to any double-standards that exist. I also don't think basketball has the air of refined dignity expected in tennis, so...why does anyone care if players taunt each other?)