Posts Tagged ‘Serena Williams’

Serena Williams’ profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a U.S. Open linesperson drew a $10,000 fine Sunday, and more punishment could follow from a broader investigation into what the head of the tournament called her “threatening manner.”

On Monday, Williams issued an apology in a statement before winning the women’s doubles title with sister Venus. Then told gathered media in a post-match news conference she wishes she could give the line judge she yelled at “a big ol’ hug.”

The fine — not quite 3% of the $350,000 in prize money Williams earned by reaching the semifinals — is the maximum on-site penalty that can be issued for unsportsmanlike conduct at a Grand Slam tournament.

“The average individual would look at that and say, ‘A $10,000 fine for what she did? What are you guys, crazy?’ The answer is: the process isn’t over,” tournament director Jim Curley said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bill Babcock, the top administrator for Grand Slam tournaments, will review what happened Saturday night, when Williams yelled at a linesperson who called a foot fault with the defending champion two points away from losing to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.

If Babcock determines Williams committed a “major offense,” she could be fined all of her prize money from the tournament.

Williams also was docked $500 for smashing her racket after the first set of the match. Because she was issued a warning then, her later actions resulted in the loss of a point.

The foot fault resulted in a double-fault, which moved Clijsters one point from victory. Williams then was penalized a point for her outburst; because it happened to come on match point, it ended the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.

Babcock did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But Curley said the inquiry probably would include reviewing TV footage, checking additional audio feeds from courtside microphones and interviewing Williams, the linesperson, the chair umpire and possibly spectators.

“What she did was unacceptable. It’s unacceptable behavior under any circumstances. When you’re on the court, and you are waving your racket toward a linesperson and using profanity, it’s just simply unacceptable,” Curley told the AP. “When you look at the tape, it’s pretty clear that the way she approached the linesperson, with her racket and in that manner, it was a threatening manner. It certainly was.”

The names of linespersons are not disclosed as a matter of practice at the tournament.

He also said the tournament considered — and decided against — preventing Williams and her older sister Venus from participating in the women’s doubles final Monday. Venus put in some work on a U.S. Open practice court Sunday; Serena wasn’t with her.

Serena Williams released a statement through a public relations firm, acknowledging that “in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.”

The second statement, issued Monday, went a lot further and contained an apology:

“I want to amend my press statement of yesterday, and want to make it clear as possible — I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong. I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.

“I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences

Serena Williams joined her sister in the U.S. Open’s third round with a dominating victory.

The second-seeded Serena was pretty close to perfect in beating 51st-ranked Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour Wednesday night.

Serena is seeking her fourth U.S. Open championship and 12th Grand Slam singles title overall. The American is trying to become the first woman to win consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows since older sister Venus in 2000-01.

The siblings could play each other in the semifinals. Third-seeded Venus Williams won earlier Wednesday, eliminating Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States 6-4, 6-2.

Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters also won, continuing her impressive Grand Slam comeback with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory over French 14th seed Marion Bartoli in the second round.

Serena played Czink at a hard-court tournament in California in July, and things were much more competitive until Serena eventually prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7).

Why was Wednesday’s encounter so different?

“I definitely made adjustments,” Serena said. “I knew her game better today.”

Czink simply couldn’t handle Serena’s power, like a baseball hitter whose swing is too slow to get around on a fastball and keeps fouling off pitches.

NEW YORK — Venus Williams was bothered by a bad knee and distracted by more than a half-dozen foot-faults. What never fazed her: a big deficit.

Quite close to losing in the U.S. Open’s first round for the first time, Williams came all the way back from a set and a break down to beat 47th-ranked Vera Dushevina of Russia 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 on Monday night.

“I had a challenge on my hands today. But I wanted to win,” said the No. 3-seeded Williams, who made 54 unforced errors. “Each good shot, and each not-so-good shot, I put behind me and looked forward to the next one.”

Williams, twice the champion at Flushing Meadows, had her left knee bandaged by a trainer after the third game. The American also had plenty of trouble serving: She piled up 10 double-faults and was called for seven foot-faults.

Afterward, Williams wouldn’t discuss her knee problem in any detail.

“You could see I had some issues,” she said. “I don’t really talk about my injuries, historically, and I’m not going to start now.”

Asked what it’s going to take for her knee to be better for the second round, Williams said: “A lot of prayer. It’s going to be a lot of prayer. Everything I can throw at it. But, you know, I’m tough.”

She sure proved that on this night.

Williams played most of her matches en route to the final at Wimbledon this year with a bulky tape job on her left knee. But she began Monday’s match without any such help. Three games in, she called for the trainer.

“I had some issues, and I needed some support,” she said, earning a roar from the fans. “I’m not one to complain. Everyone has injuries they’re dealing with. I did my best tonight, despite everything I was going through.”