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Serena pays hefty price for expletive-laden rant
Source: Agencies |
September 15, 2009, Tuesday
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SERENA Williams was fined US$10,500 on Sunday by officials at the US Open and could face further sanctions after an investigation was launched into her angry outburst during her semifinal defeat by Kim Clijsters.
It is the biggest fine handed out to a woman player since records started being kept in 1990, according to the International Tennis Federation.
"The maximum permissible on site fine of US$10,000 has been levied for unsportsmanlike conduct against Serena Williams for her on court behavior during the women's semifinal," the tournament referee said. "Ms Williams also will be fined US$500 for racket abuse which took place at the end of the first set of the same match."
Trailing 4-6, 5-6, 15-30, Williams launched into a second serve but the lineswoman sitting at the baseline held up her finger to call her on a foot-fault - meaning the American had served a double-fault to go match point down.
Astounded by the verdict, Williams walked over to the official screaming. She waved her racket ominously in the lineswoman's direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she threatened "to shove it down" her throat.
Warning
"I swear to God I'm... going to take this ball and shove it down your... throat, you hear that? I swear to God. You better be glad... glad that I'm not, I swear," Williams told the line-judge in her expletive-laden rant.
Having already received a warning earlier in the match for smashing a racket, Williams was handed an automatic point penalty for a second violation which abruptly ended the match.
The 27-year-old Williams was unrepentant.
"Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, 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 American said.
"I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience."
It is the biggest fine handed out to a woman player since records started being kept in 1990, according to the International Tennis Federation.
"The maximum permissible on site fine of US$10,000 has been levied for unsportsmanlike conduct against Serena Williams for her on court behavior during the women's semifinal," the tournament referee said. "Ms Williams also will be fined US$500 for racket abuse which took place at the end of the first set of the same match."
Trailing 4-6, 5-6, 15-30, Williams launched into a second serve but the lineswoman sitting at the baseline held up her finger to call her on a foot-fault - meaning the American had served a double-fault to go match point down.
Astounded by the verdict, Williams walked over to the official screaming. She waved her racket ominously in the lineswoman's direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she threatened "to shove it down" her throat.
Warning
"I swear to God I'm... going to take this ball and shove it down your... throat, you hear that? I swear to God. You better be glad... glad that I'm not, I swear," Williams told the line-judge in her expletive-laden rant.
Having already received a warning earlier in the match for smashing a racket, Williams was handed an automatic point penalty for a second violation which abruptly ended the match.
The 27-year-old Williams was unrepentant.
"Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, 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 American said.
"I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience."
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