Serena Loses Temper in Bizarre Finish
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09/12/2009 11:14 PM ET By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP)
NEW YORK (Sept. 12) -- Serena Williams walked toward the line judge, screaming, cursing and shaking a ball in the official's direction, threatening to "shove it down" her throat.
On match point in the U.S. Open semifinals Saturday night, defending champion Williams was penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct -- a bizarre, ugly finish that gave a 6-4, 7-5 upset victory to unseeded, unranked Kim Clijsters.
Serena Williams Snapshots
Serena Williams, of the United States, talks to officials after arguing with a line judge, far left, during her match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AP
Serena Williams, of the United States, left, talks to officials after arguing with a line judge during her match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kim Clijsters from Belgium against Serena Williams of the US during their Women's Semi-Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 12, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kim Clijsters from Belgium against Serena Williams of the US during their Women's Semi-Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 12, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Serena Williams (R) is disqualified for a default during the Women's Singles Semifinal match against to Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day thirteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Serena Williams
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Serena Williams is disqualified for a foot fault during the Women's Singles Semifinal match against to Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day thirteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Serena Williams
Getty Images
Kim Clijsters from Belgium against Serena Williams of the US during their Women's Semi-Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 12, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Serena Williams, of the United States, argues with a line judge during her match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Serena Williams, of the United States, argues with a line judge during her match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Tennis legend Billie Jean King watches the Women's Singles Semifinal match between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day thirteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Billie Jean King
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The match featured plenty of powerful groundstrokes and lengthy exchanges. No one will remember a single shot that was struck, though, because of the unusual, dramatic way it ended.
With Williams serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set, she faulted on her first serve. On the second serve, a line judge called a foot fault, making it a double-fault -- a call rarely, if ever, seen at that stage of any match, let alone the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament.
That made the score 15-40, putting Clijsters one point from victory.
Instead of stepping to the baseline to serve again, Williams went over and shouted and cursed at the line judge, pointing at her and thrusting the ball toward her.
"If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat," Williams said.
She continued yelling at the line judge, and went back over, shaking her racket in the official's direction.
Asked in her postmatch news conference what she said to the line judge, Williams wouldn't say, replying, "What did I say? You didn't hear?"
"I've never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don't know why she would have felt threatened," Williams said with a smile.
The line judge went over to the chair umpire, and tournament referee Brian Earley joined in the conversation. With the crowd booing -- making part of the dialogue inaudible -- Williams then went over and said to the line judge: "Sorry, but there are a lot of people who've said way worse." Then the line judge said something to the chair umpire, and Williams responded, "I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious? I didn't say that." The line judge replied by shaking her head and saying, "Yes."
Williams already had been give a code violation warning when she broke her racket after losing the first set. So the chair umpire now awarded a penalty point to Clijsters, ending the match.
"She was called for a foot fault, and a point later, she said something to a line umpire, and it was reported to the chair, and that resulted in a point penalty," Earley explained. "And it just happened that point penalty was match point. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct."
When the ruling was announced, Williams walked around the net to the other end of the court to shake hands with a stunned Clijsters, who did not appear to understand what had happened.
"I used to have a real temper, and I've gotten a lot better," Williams said later. "So I know you don't believe me, but I used to be worse. Yes, yes, indeed."
Lost in the theatrics was Clijsters' significant accomplishment: In only her third tournament back after 2 1/2 years in retirement, the 26-year-old Belgian became the first mother to reach a Grand Slam final since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon 1980.
"The normal feelings of winning a match weren't quite there," Clijsters said. "But I think afterwards, when everything kind of sunk in a little bit and got explained to me about what happened, yeah, you kind of have to put it all in place, and then it becomes a little bit easier to understand and to kind of not celebrate, but at least have a little bit of joy after a match like that."
Clijsters hadn't competed at the U.S. Open since winning the 2005 championship. Now she will play for her second career major title Sunday against No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who beat Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-3, 6-3 in the other rain-delayed women's semifinal.
Williams came into the day having won three of the past four Grand Slam titles, and 30 of her previous 31 matches at major tournaments.
She was playing fantastically at the U.S. Open, not losing a set before Saturday and having lost her serve a total of three times through five matches.
But Clijsters -- who beat Williams' older sister, No. 3 Venus, in the fourth round -- was superb, matching strokes and strides with as strong and swift a woman as the game has to offer.
Williams, meanwhile, kept making mistakes, and two backhand errors plus a double-fault contributed to a break at love that put Clijsters ahead 4-2.
When Williams netted backhands on consecutive points at 5-4, Clijsters had broken her for the second time and taken the opening set. The last backhand was the 14th unforced error made by Williams to that point -- twice as many as Clijsters -- and the American bounced her racket, caught it, then cracked it against the blue court, mangling the frame.
When Williams walked to the changeover, she clanged it against the net post and was given a warning for racket abuse by the chair umpire.
That would prove pivotal about an hour later, at match's end.
"I mean, the timing is unfortunate, you know," Clijsters said. "To get a point penalty at the time, it's unfortunate. But there are rules, and you know, like I said, it's just unfortunate that it has to happen on a match point."
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Comments (Page 1 of 203)
to love2boma, why you write such a long crazy letter. Maybe Sereana was wrong it what she did , but to me you have motive in that letter. You dont have a life that you have to write so long, I just skip over that pile of junk, and how you doing?
should be banned from tennis. violent threats cannot be tolerated. what a mental case.------ same for mike vick. dangerous individuals
running the country into the ground.
put down the crack pipe.
rules are rules
In anyone's logical, opinion, and in truth, unless she went insane for 5 or 6 minutes, "there was NO EXCUSE" for what Serena Williams did, on the tennis court, at the US OPEN. while playing Kim Clijsters, on Sat. evening. Call it whatever you want, it was a result of, " her ego and of her own doing". She is too bare the blame. She was in a obvious realization, that she was being "beaten handily" by a young woman, just returning to the game, and she had no "B" game to go too. Kim had been away and this was only her 3rd or 4th tournament, since she's returned. Kim is a very personable, humble, well liked woman in the tennis world, by just about everyone. New York loves Kim, they always have. Serena did not like any of it. Period. The crowd often picks and cheers their favorites. That is nothing new to Serena. Just that night, it was not her! One of the 'ridiculous comments' Serena made during her after match media interview, in her reference too Kim was, "Well she obviously had a really, really good plan. I'm going to have too watch for her next time. " DUH! It was far, far from the first time Serena and Kim have played each other. Kim is a professional, and very apparently is a player, who comes with a "Plan B". Many don't. When their A game fails, they have nothing too resort too. Kim also plays with "smarts" not just 'how hard she can hit the ball! She does not live on the reputation, of "Just being so good, and really lucky, that she does not have too practice that often." She also now has an 18mth old daughter. It doesn't take much for anyone too know, how hard Kim must have worked, and the hours of practice, core work, etc, she had too put in, to be prepared. Kim is the saddest part of this whole scenario. She was robbed her proper celebration of WIN, that is for sure. Apparently she came with another really good plan yesterday, because "Sunday evening, Kim Clijsters, won the women's US OPEN, against Caroline Wozniacki, (sp) from Denmark. Kim so deserved it! As did Caroline, as runner up. She is another fine young 19yr. old woman, who has come to be the eighth seed, of the women's tennis world, it seems, almost over night. Like Kim, she is personable, approachable, and well liked by just about everyone in the tennis world. For anyone ************ the Kim & Serena match. Serena's frustration, of not being able to over power Kim, was more than obvious. She was growing angry, at the fact, that her "power serves" were just not going to be able to win the match for her. Kim is well known for her tenacity of chasing down 'every ball'! Serena's "Divadom' obviously being threatened, I think the thought of swallowing any "crow" she knew ,was going to be at the least 'distasteful'. She has made it known all year, that she did not care what anyone says, she is #1, in the women's tennis world. Making ref. to Dinara Safina being currently seeded there, and not deserving it. Perhaps Dinara has not won a slam, but it is also obvious, that Dinara has worked very hard not only on her game, but also on 'controling' her angry outbursts on court, and they never, ever came anywhere near what Serena's act of "the vilest language, physical threats, and then denials" , that she displayed on court, Sat. evening. Linesperson, or not, she too is a professional, I might add. There was no racism too it, that I could see. The Lineswoman, was very clearly of Asian descent, and she did not 'run over' to the Umpire, as Serena stated in her media interview. Serena stalked over too her, thrashing her with nasty comments and threats, 3 different times, before the Umpire "called" the Lineswoman over, and asked her, what Serena said. There were at least 60 or so fans sitting within ear distance of Serena's comments, including 2 or 3 security persons, standing no more than 15 or 20 ft. from her. Were there children or young people in that area? Probably. Serena was so angry, frustrated, pissed off , and out of control, that she was losing, she could not let the fact go, that this professional had dared call a 'foot fault' on her. She had clearly found someone to attack and let her aggressions loose on. She was thinking herself very obviously above any repercussions, that was obvious. The Lineswoman, was the one completely in the perfect position too see a "foot fault. It was very clear in the tape as well. It's a rule, and it should have not mattered, who it was, nor what point it was, and it obviously didn't. When asked in the media interview if she would apologize to the lineswoman, Serena replied, "What? Are you kidding? Haven't you ever heard others yell at officials? I don't know why she said she felt threatened." Is she kidding? probably everyone sitting behind the Lineswoman felt threatened too, if asked. As the news reads, and reports, Serena still has not apologized for her ridiculous, outbreak, in the largest, and most popular, stage of tennis, in the United States. Stating, she guessed she made "poor choices" after she'd thought about it. I will agree with sports commentator, Mary Carillo(sp) she stated directly after, "Serena deserves an Oscar for that media interview she gave." It was at the very least "sad" too think she is someone, that so many young women look up too as a role model. At this time, when there are so many professionals, and others, constantly working too do everything possible, to build the "sport of tennis" ,in the US, and get more young kids involved. Serena very obviously forgot many subjects in her life, she owes her professional world too. It has been her choice too be the "Big Part" of the tennis world, that she has been, and she may well have worked hard along the way to be where she is. But her returns have been huge! She is the first one too say so. She needs to go back to "square one', climb down off of her diva soap box, settle down into her plush Paris apt., crack open her Gatorade, (another sponsor$$) pull one of her new "Nasty is in Dynasty, Nike t-shirts" (another major$$$ sponsor) and remember how, what, and who all, got her there. She may be a super star, but she did not get there all by herself. She obviously owes many apologies. Human error is at times, acceptable, but apologies, and decent explanations, are required from someone in the lime light she is. The "act that Serena staged" on the tennis court the other night, was far far from anything "professional, or acceptable". For RRomago, "Obvilously, neither professionalism, nor class, nor fairness, mean anything in your world. It's just all about the money with you." Ktownsmarty ************ on" about Serena.
I believe it was something you said like, "What a classless act. It let down everything else you've ever done."
she lost it - there is no excuse - we all understand that there is a great deal of pressure BUT she can NOT threaten someone when a call doesn't go her way - go to the highest umpire there and complain - COMPLAIN not threaten
Temper, temper, Serena McEnroe
Mpm80...my last post was directed at the comment YOu made in particular. Like I said..You are one of the reasons racism is alive and well in this country!!
I L.O.V.E.D Serena's reaction to the foot fault call.
#1 I think Serena was absolutely justified in her reaction.
#2 she is still one of the best.
#3 this is her career she is allowed to take it seriously when she feels that something out of her control is hindering her success.
We all take things seriously from time to time and that is truly no reason to throw racial slurs and demeaning comments out there. She attempted to handle it professionally afterward in the conference area when reporters where questioning her and she even explained that the woman deserved her win. WHAT MORE DO YALL WANT!!!!!
WILLIAMSBOOMER, you're an idiot. Of course NFL players act crazy too, but the fact that Manning drinks and Vick kills dogs doesn't make Serena's behavior "normal" or "acceptable..." And yes, you hear about all of them on ESPN and elsewhere, it's just that TV audiences are too forgiving because they don't really give a damn. Get a grip... Serena's lost her mind and so have you.
THAT was a completely unneccessary comment. YOU are one of the reasons racism is alive and well in this country. WE are ALL AMERICANS..color is irrelevant. I agree Serena acted in appropriately, but this whole situation is about her behavior..not her race, creed or color.
Why do you think it was questionable to call a foot fault? The rules are the rules. In tennis it's all about the lines. Her foot touched the line before she hit the ball.... a foot fault! If a serve goes over the net and is outside of the service box on a critical point in a match is it questionable for the lines person to call it a fault? NO! It is the same thing.
I have read a number of these posts and DO NOT understand why people insist on making this a "racist" issue. The fact of the matter is, whether you are black or white..it makes absolutely NO difference!! This was a very unsportsman-like way of displaying ones frustrations. It is an unfortunate situation that an iconic figure in womens tennis lost her match due to her behavior...regardless of her color. I am so sick of everyone making such big deal over COLOR when it is NOT about color..it is about rules of the games and uancceptable behavior. GROW UP PEOPLE!! WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.....
Serena was NOT out of line to curseout that little witch lineswoman ...seriously foot fault at 15-30 5-6 in a semifinal of a grand slam wroth over 1 million dollars ... the lineswoman got what she deserved...
I'm sorry but your dumb. Look at the MAIN role models of the NFL, NBA, AND THE MLB. They all have something that they do. Manning drinks, real role model. Other players smoke. But you don't here anything about that on ESPN. Think about things before you say them, especially on a page about Serena Williams.
Serena is an absolute loser, immature and self-centered athlete. This is not about race... it is all about sportsmanship and she lost control of herself in an awful and disgraceful way. Tennis is still a classy sport and there is no room for that kind of behavior. Ever. She should be suspended from the next 2 or 3 Grand Slams. Forget the fine... they mean nothing to wealthy athletes. I'm sure the $10,000 fine is giving her a good laugh. With so many girls watching around the world and wanting to be like her this is an irresponsable act of gargantuan proportions. What a miserable example for the kids who idolize her. Really, keep her out of a few Slams and she'll learn her lesson.
With all of Serena experience, I'm disappointed that she would fall apart like that with any of the officials while she was under pressure. With that said, people should not be so judgemental about her behavior. She screwed up, yes, but she does not deserve the harsh words and anti black comments.
Call it what you want, I WAS WATCHING THE MATCH LIVE AS IT HAPPENED. The commentators heard Serena clearly and described in detail what she had said, threatening the small, female, line judge and using the F word. This video was edited. It does not show Serena's full, violence-threatening tirade using the 'F' word and threatening to shove the f-ing ball down the line judge woman's throat. Serena walked threateningly toward the small, female, line judge, shaking her racquet and clenching a tennis ball while threatening to shove it down her throat, cussing a blue streak they bleeped out, but you could read her lips as she said the 'F' word repeatedly and intimidated the little judge woman as she sat still in her seat until the chair judge called the judge woman over to ask her what Serena had said. This video only picks up after the tournament heads were called, after the terrible, threatening behavior had gone down. Serena was not even the slightest bit remorseful or apologetic at the media Q and A afterward. She is a horrible person to behave so aggressively and threateningly in such a public display of poor sportsmanship, disrespect, and threatened violence on an official of the sport that has paid her millions. She should be banned for a few months and fined. It is bS to say it is only because she is black that people are upset. Anyone who pulled this kind of threatening behavior deserves what they get. AND, IT WAS HER SECOND INCIDENT OF THE EVENING! That's why she was docked a point which lost her the game and the match. I cannot recall a white person ever committing this kind of grievous misbehavior and threatening actions in my 40 years of watching tennis (I am 52). Serena threatened to shove the F-ing tennis ball down the woman's throat while shaking her tennis racquet in her face. I SAW IT LIVE! The poor little line judge was terrified of Serena coming at her swearing and shaking her racquet at her. AND, the call was never reversed. The line judge is the only person who could see the foot fault from the side. The video is all from behind and it was impossible to see. Regardless, the threatening actions and profanities were unprecedented, even for a John McEnroe (who incidentally first defended Serena and then backed down when he saw how violently she behaved with the line judge. McEnroe NEVER crossed that line). ALL of this in front of her own mother in the audience! Serena's behavior goes all the way back to January 13, 2003 when she was fined $1500.00 for obscenities in the opening match against Emilie Loit at the Australian Open. Serena Williams has always been, and still is, a classless, unremorseful bee-ach. Pro sports is being ruined by the likes of Serena and Michael Vick and on and on. I know I am not alone in saying I am simply tired of feeling the need to speak out against all of this undignified, horrendously bad behavior. Tennis used to be a classy sport! So did football and basketball! It is not fair to be called racist for simply trying to keep sports clean!
TO ALL OF YOU SERENA HATERS!GET OF THIS WOMAN VAGINA! HATE WILL NEVER LEAVE THE HEARTS OF WHITE AMERICA TOWARDS BLACK AMERICA! I WONDER WHY WHITE AMERICA HATE BLACKS SO MUCH?IS IT BECAUSE BLACKS ARE SUPERIOR IN CREATIVITY?GOD IS HATED,JESUS WAS ALSO HATED WHEN HE WALKED THIS EARTH.THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GODWERE SLAVES,SO TOO WERE BALCK AMERICA.BLACK WILL ALWAYS SUFFER IN WHITE AMERICA.WITHOUT COLOR IN AMERICA,WHITE AMERICA WOULD BE LOST!LOST!WHITE AMERICA WILL NEVER CHANGE!ALL OF THIS HATE OVER A DAMN SPORT!SERENA IS A SEXY,SUCESSFULL BLACK WOMAN,THAT MANY WHITE AMERICANS ENVY.WHITES ALWAYS ENVIED BLACKS! I LAUGH AT YOU AT YOUR IGNORANCE!LOL! SERENA WILL RISE ABOVE THIS HATE,LIKE SHE AND HER FAMILY HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.WHITE AMERICA'S GREED AND HATE WILL DESTROY AMERICA ONE OF THESE DAYS.KEEP FIGHTING THROUGH ALL THE HATE SERENA! P.S YOU ARE THE SEXIST WOMAN IN SPORTS PEROID