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SERENA INQUEST
Tournament spokesman Chris Widmaier said Sunday that officials were watching tapes of what happened Saturday night. The tournament referee, Brian Earley, interviewed Williams and the match's chair umpire before they left the grounds on Saturday night. With Williams serving, two points from defeat, a line judge called a foot fault on a second serve giving Clijsters a match point. Williams screamed, cursed and shook a ball in the official's direction and is alleged to have stated: “I swear to God, I’m f------ going to take this f------ ball and shove it down your f------ throat, you hear that? I swear to God” Having incurred a warning for smashing her racket into the court at the end of the first set, she was then docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct, ending the match. The following day she was handed the maximum possible fine by US Open officials. The Grand Slam issued a statement from Brian Earley following a day reviewing the defending champion’s controversial exit from the tournament at Flushing Meadows. It explained the American would be fined the maximum permissible on-site fine of US$10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct. She was also US$500 fined for the first violation involving racket abuse in the opening set. Williams could be in for further sanctions, possibly a suspension from future Grand Slams or the loss of her prize money from this year's US Open, as the matter has been passed on for further investigation. "The Grand Slam Rule Book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the Grand Slam Committee Administrator to determine if the behaviour of Ms Williams warrants consideration as a major offence for which additional penalties can be imposed," the statement read. "This investigation has now begun." |
Williams had been unrepentant about the incident in her post-match press conference, claiming to not remember what she had said to the line judge and saying her actions were not unprecedented. She was later seen entering referee Earley's office before leaving the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre. According the Grand Slam Rule Book cited in the statement, unsportsmanlike conduct when referred to the Grand Slam Committee can treated as "aggravated behaviour", which "is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a Grand Slam, or is singularly egregious." The rule book states that such a violation if proven: "shall subject a player to a fine of up to $250,000 or the amount of prize money won at the tournament, whichever is greater, and a maximum penalty of permanent suspension from play in all Grand Slams and/or the Tennis Masters Cup." Later Williams issued a statement of her own. Under the heading that the statement was "to fans following semi-final match", the American made no mention of the fine or possible further punishments and pointedly did not offer an apology to the line judge, instead back-tracking on her post-match press conference opinion that she had just been "doing her job". "Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have my job," the Williams statement read. "Now that I have had time to regain 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. "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." WTA chairman Stacey Allaster responded by saying: "Serena Williams' conduct last night was inappropriate and unprofessional. No matter what the circumstances, no player should be allowed to engage in such behaviour without suffering consequences. I have spoken with the USTA about this matter and I agree with the action they have taken. "Serena is a great player who has done so much for
our sport and I am certain she will continue to be a role model to millions
of young women who want to play the game and excel as Serena has done. As a
role model, it's important for a leader like Serena to step forward and
recognise her behaviour last night was unacceptable, and I believe that her
statement earlier today is an acknowledgement of her responsibility to her
fans." |
Obituary - JACK
KRAMER DIES
Widely considered the godfather of pro tennis, Kramer is credited with pushing the idea of Open tennis years before it was approached in 1968. He was the first executive director of the ATP Tour, headed the boycott of Wimbledon in 1973 and turned the LA men's tournament into a must-see attraction for Southern Californians. Kramer was a vintage serve-and-volley player who advocated percentage tennis. He won Wimbledon and the US Championships in 1946 and 1947 and won the US crown again the next year before turning pro. "Kramer was not only a great player but a pioneer of the modern game and a true innovator in bringing the modern pro game to tennis," USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith said. "He is American tennis personified. When it was time for Jack to go, how appropriate it was to go on finals Sunday at US Open. We would not have the US Open as we know it today if Kramer hadn't set the groundwork for it.” Kramer was remembered on court at the conclusion of the Juan Martin del Potro / Rafael Nadal semi final on Sunday. |
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September 14 - The US Open is
reviewing Serena Williams' tirade at a line judge at the end of her semi final
loss to Kim Clijsters.
September 14 - Former world Wimbledon
and US champion Jack Kramer died in the early hours of Sunday morning at the
age of 88 after a long illness in Los Angeles.