On match point in the U.S. Open semifinals Saturday night, defending champion Serena 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.
Did Serena Williams deserve a point deduction for her behavior?
Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:25 AM EDT
Leave a Comment:
Saving...
she should be kicked out of tennis for a year
She should be suspended for TWO (2) years at least for her extremely unprofessional discourteous cheeky attitude and action during the match! Professional athletes are NOT divas, despite her attempt to come across as one. Viewers pay very good hard earned money to come see professional events, they should not be subjected to such childish inconsiderate acts as she put on during her match. It is no wonder that more and more fans are becoming disenchanted with professional athletes today because of above such acts. And there is no excuse at all of her, or anyone else attempting to say that she was under a lot of pressure during the match. It was not her first professional match - she knows what is in store for her during the match and if she cannot handle the pressure than she should try to get a job like all the other millions of out of work individuals who would love to be paid such high amount for simply playing a "game". A formal public apology should also be given by her to the officials during the match, her opponent, and to the fans!
You are a moron. Did you call for McEnroe to be suspended for years? Conners? you are clearly just as racist as the rest of these posters.
It unclear whether or not this person is a racist, "jager", but his statement is suspect. Her actions do not warrant this severe of a penalty, and that is certainly the truth.
Let it sit with losing the match..at the US Open, that is a hard enough penalty. I can't see where a suspension would do anything here, although, a fine would not go amiss necessarily. If Serena had assaulted the line judge, I could understand the fine and/or suspension.
I admit I don't understand a lot of the behind the scenes in something like football, but even players, if I am not mistaken, can and are fined for yelling at a referee.
jager. you are an idiot. as one of these posters, i do believe i would be the first native american racist. someone call dateline. anyway. i just dont believe in what serena did or her conduct as a player. it would be nice if she would give some credit and be humble just once. then i might be more sympathetic.
Two years? Let's come back down to earth. She was essentially ejected from the tournament and fined. She did not touch the line judge; all she did was yell at her - yes, profanely - but it was still only verbal. Nobody really believes that she would have done any physical harm to the judge.
Now JAGER, anyone (white, black, purple, I don't care) who threatens an official in a profanity laced tirade (and, yes, she threatened to shove that tennis ball somewhere) should be punished (appropriately). And, before you bring up McEnroe again, let me remind you that he was once removed from the Australian Open (in the middle of a match) for his poor behavior.
Not only was penalizing her a point the correct thing to do but she should also be fined a large enough sum to make her keep her mouth shut in the future. She's always been a whinner.
she should be kicked out of tennis for one year----no doubt she will claim racisim
you guys are amazing. When McEnroe did this EVERY weekend it was just Mac being Mac and part of the sport. In this case a very out of character behavior on a very questionable and delayed call all of a sudden is a demand for suspension. Only if you are black I guess or a black female. White male behavior is just part of the game?
You said it the correct way. The double standard being applied is appalling, but she has to make good on an apology to the sport. However, no major penalties are in order for what happened. The match and a chance to tie Billie Jean King for Grand Slam tennis championships are embarrassing enough for her, and the people around her are letting her know that this is unacceptable.
McEnroe was what, 15 plus years ago? Rules and consequences are revised throughout time.
And, as I said above, even McEnroe was ejected from a Grand Slam Tournament because of his behavior.
I don't recall McEnroe cussing any official--hollaring and ranting yes and plenty of it. But never threatning an offical of physical abuse. Not sure I am for suspension, but the fine should have been at least $100,000.00. To her $10,000.00 is peanuts.
There are reasons for rules about sportsmanship. If there weren't any rules there soon would be no umpires, referees or judges. Athletes need to learn to control their reactions. It is all part of disciplining themselves. If they are allowed to continue to throw these tantrums how long will it be before a gun is brought to an athletic event and an official will die?
To me it feels like sporting events are being brought down to a very low level when athletes behave like 2 year olds instead of disciplined and intelligent professionals.
McEnroe was an embarrassment to tennis. It is sad that he became so glorified.
This is a very unfortunate event for Serena Williams, and I'm sure she woke up this morning and regretted the whole ordeal. The penalty point was justified, even though it came at such an inopportune time. However, it really is sad that many of the posters on this board, and Newsvine in general, seem to always take this to the bigoted extremes. Yes, Serena was out of line, and yes, she will be penalized appropriately. No, that penalty won't be two years, or even one year. What is the motivation behind someone's thinking in those harsh terms.
Also, for Georgia, this isn't a blight on the Black race; it's something that happens with a lot of athletes of all colors. Also, for the racists on the thread, this is not behavior that is common to Serena Williams, and she has rarely been shown to have outbursts like the one she had yesterday. This is the sad commentary on life in the USA. An incident cannot happen without it being placed in the context of black and white, when said incident involves a person of color.
My hope is that Ms. Williams will see the error of her ways and make good to the WTA and her many fans, me being one of her biggest, for this unacceptable behavior. Then, it is my hope that the racists and bigots who, might I remind you, bought up the race card first. She didn't, nor has, said anything about the incident being racially motivated, so go crawl back under your proverbial rock of ignorance. Also, there should be no double standard in people's reactions to her event, than there are with any other athlete's shortcomings. John McEnroe, my favorite men's tennis player, exhibited this behavior on a consistent basis, and there weren't calls for his head like there are from certain members of our society. He had a bad temper and has since made changes in his life, so one outburst doesn't doom Serena Williams to a lifetime ban. She needs to be punished on the same level as anyone else, which was probably the penalty she received in the match and a stiff, but fair, punishment from professional tennis.
To be fair, John McEnroe went on some pretty amazing tirades during his career - he was an artist when it came insults and temper tantrums.
But I don't believe he ever made even a veiled threat to one.
Plus there is the fact, as some writers have pointed out, that McEnroe almost always pointed his anger at the chair umpire who had the authority to respond to him in whatever manner was appropriate.
Serena targeted a linesperson who has no such authority. It seems to have gotten lost in this story that the linesperson had to be called over the chair umpire to relate what had occured because the ump and everyone else had missed most of Serena's tirade.
The ump sent the linesperson back to her seat - at which point Serena had more words for her and made more intimidating gestures to her. Serena wasn't going to allow her to officiate on another point if she had anything to say about it. But that isn't her call and she knows it.
So, comparing McEnroe and Serena's tirades is not exactly comparing apples to apples. I could be wrong but I don't believe McEnroe ever implied or threated physical violence.
Do I believe that Serena would have shoved the ball down the women's throat?
Of course not.
But she implied that she would do it..if she could - and did she so with profanity and posture that were clearly intended to not only humiliate the linesperson but intimidate her as well.
Dear Thaddeus---Thanks for your insightful, well-reasoned comment. So many people want to play the race card (on all sides of the issue). Ms. Williams is a young lady (used to winning) who was emotionally caught up in a match she was about to lose. SHE MADE A MISTAKE!!! Let's all let it go.
There are real problems and issues in this world. This is just a tennis match! She'll make her official apology and the world will keep spinning!
Very well put! There is a margin of error when we consider even athletes are humans. I'm not above a mistake, or an occasional display of frustration and neither is she. If, however, there was no remorse, no improvement, and a pattern of similar behavior, I might feel more strongly than I do now. This is an example of human behavior on the end...we root for the underdogs until they become champions. Then, we look for every reason to try to criticize them when we realize like us, they are human, but unlike us, they have what we could only dream of having. I don't condone her behavior but why are people so quick to know down a winner because she was suddenly less perfect. She wasn't smug after the fact. She dog paddled like mad to take back the mistake. But, still we want to punish her repeatedly and knock her down to levels that far exceed the crime. And, the racist, biggot comments....puhlease. Why do people always want to create more drama than there is. Not enough going on in your own life??
As an avid tennis fan I was already imagining how this was going to play out in the media and on the blogs before Serena even stormed off the court.
There are fans of the Williams sisters who are very invested in believing that the WTA and tennis itself, if not the whole world, is conspiring against their favorite players. Anyone, from a commentator to a blogger, who says anything less than that flattering about them can get labeled a racist by their fanzoids.
As the scene unfolded I just saw these folks drooling over the possibility of getting to portray Serena as a terribly wronged martyr.
And frankly, till that point...I wouldn't have disagreed with them entirely. A foot fault - especially at the critical point in semi-final of a grand slam - was kind of a dumb call to make - even if it was correct. Rules are rules, but at that point in a match, unless the violation is blatant and obvious - let the players decide the match.
That's what I was thinking...until I heard what Serena actually said to the woman.
She crossed the line...BIG TIME.
She will undoubtedly be fined, but she won't be suspended. The WTA won't sideline it's biggest star and a living legend.
I have no doubt that by next year, a player will be able to challenge a foot fault call and Hawk Eye will be expanded to catch the server's feet as well as the ball trajactories.
The foot fault may have given Clijsters match point, but Serena has come back from being down a match point before. Serena lost this match because of the words that came out of her own lips - not anyone else's.
I just hope Kim can process all that happened and come out and play her best in the final tonight. She played a great match last night and was not only staring down but beating the woman who is currently the best player in the world. She was up a set and two points away from winning when this all went down. She deserved to walk off that court feeling elated and carrying emotional momentum into the final. Instead she walked off bewildered and confused by events that transpired that had nothing to do with her.
Serena is going to have to do some more damage control before this thing is finished but she will bounce back.
Congrats to Kim on a great match and tourament. It is sad her amazing comeback story is being overshadowed by this.
For a woman of her age and visibility, she certainly should know how to keep under control. The beligerence she showed to the officials and the game is certainly not uncommon in "professional sports", but it does not make it any easier to see; especially in the classy game of tennis. Clijsters beat her fair and square before all this nonsense, and Williams did not even have enough respect for the game or Clijsters accomplishment to acknowledge it.
Poor form, and very unbecoming of an athlete and a lady.
Oh god not the gender card now...prescription for how women should behave should be outlawed. As a woman I fight for the right to act as I will without reference to my gender or race. You don't see John McEnroe having to represent anyone but himself.
#1) Most of you do not know anything about her on a personal level, I do.
#2) YES, she deserves the point reduction, she as much admitted so.
#3) Was there a misunderstanding about the events, and what she thought was said to her, the thing that made her go off? YES
#4) Did she admit later she was just caught up in the moment? YES
#5) Did she apologize - YES and no had to make her di it either.. because that is who she really is...
#6) Suspension ?? STOP HATING - STOP HATING - where was McEnroe's one year suspension then ? Those of you callign for a one year suspension ARE racist haters.. STOP HATING..
#7) She is NOT GOING TO CRY RACISM.. the only people doing that and saying that in here are those of you who ARE RACIST .. get over it... You are the ones that have racist issues.. This is womens tennis... STOP being fools...
#8) She'll probably get a fine and be done with it.. IT WAS A TENNIS CALL... Some of you people are crazy in here.. get over it ..
#9) Serena is not on steroids either.. I can personally attest to that ... so stop hating there too..
And by the way, when someone says Hating.. it doesnt alsways mean racism people.. just a little lesson in street language...
I agree with most of what you said.
But as someone who has followed tennis for 30 years - I have to say that there are two sides to the "hating" that goes on with relation to Williams sisters fans. It is definitely a two way street with heavy traffic on both sides.
And to that point, this needs to be clarified even more - we're talking about fans here - not the players themselves. It's the fans who are saying and doing ugly things and the players get unfairly tainted by it all.
There are fans on both sides of the issue when it comes to the Williams sisters who take things to extremes.
I've seen WS fans throw the word "racist" at others for simply disagreeing with them or not favoring the WS as zealously as they do.
Just because someone is not a fan of Serena and/or Venus does not make them a "racist" or a "hater".
I realize you didn't say that yourself - but you are contributing to that mindset.
To: Born in the South - that is obvious based on your response. It is quite a leap to accuse someone of steroid use, and you might want to edit your response before submission "do you" should be "to you"
Unsportsmanlike conduct is serious as these players are role models and will in time if the penalties are meaningful start to control themselves better in their attitude towards match officials who it must be presumed are impartial
People..... stop hating.. she said she thought she heard the lines person say she was goign to kill her, so she reacted..... what would you do ???
Most of you in here are just waiting to take people down, especially anyoen that happens to be a prominet BLACK person.. Serena is NOT going to cry racism.. get a life..
The best part of this is that NOTHING any of you racist in here say matters......
get over it
What? the linesperson believed Serena threatened to kill her, Serena does not believe she did - however her behaviour was unacceptable.
Watch the videos - when speaking with the supervisor on court, Serena Williams says "I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious?" It was only in the press conference that she started her spin on events that she thought the line judge made that statement (as an excuse for her behavior). The fact is, Williams did threaten bodily harm and, while we all agree that she never would have touched the line judge, violent threats are not appropriate in sport or anywhere.
Prostrength, you need to get a life. Serena should be fined more than what she was, but that is the largest amount that the USTA allows...that's too bad, she should forfiet all her winnings for the US Open, better yet give them all to Charity. She should be DQ'd from playing in the doubles final today..to bad she's not. And suspended for at least 6 months for her actions. You say she apologized..when? She is a poor excuse for a Tennis player, and a human being...and lets hope she doesn't get the #1 ranking either..
What the replays are not showing are the side view footage where, clearly, there was no foot fault whatsoever. I do not need to see repeated footage of the tape taken from behind where Serena was standing, where the foot fault is inconclusive. Oh, to not be white and blonde in lily White America. Just because an American president is of African heritage, we have many people who believe that, America, as a nation, no longer has any racism or racial animosity. There was no foot fault! So you now say that Serena should never have "gone off" on a referee who is blind as a bat. This is not the NBA, or the NFL, where bodies are so moving so fast that it is easy to get the call wrong. A foot fault is almost like a non moving violation, it is easy, it is remedial, it is before any real action of the point begins. If you ask for Serena to be suspended, are you not going to ask that the line official be suspended as well?
Well, you must be watching some footage that only you have access to - because I haven't seen anything that convinces me one way or the other.
The replays they showed during the match was from the back of the court and not the down the line perspective of the linesperson.
The call, even if it was correct - was petty, especially at such a critical point in the match.
But bad call or not - that doesn't excuse anything Serena did from that point on.
Serena knows she made a mistake that far overshadows any mistake that linesperson might have made. She didn't lose the match because the linesperson called a foot fault. She lost because of the words that came out of her own mouth.
She made a mistake. It brought back memories of John McEnroe who got away with this type of behavior in every match I watched him play. It apparently did not hurt the sport or his reputation. The tennis anchors seemed to agree that the linesperson was wrong to call the questionable foot fault at such a ctritical point. There is no question that Serena was wrong to react as she did. A fine is in order, but a suspension is not. She did not threaten the life of the linesperson as so many are claiming. The spread of misinformation is amazing. Serena does indeed give praise to her opponents whether she wins or loses. Too much time is being spent on this. Let's enjoy the rest of the Open and hope that Clijsters can continue the high quality of play in the finals
"She did not threaten the life of the linesperson" That depends on your perspective. Being a small of stature person and have someone the size of Serena standing in front of you shaking her racket in your face hollaring I'll stuff this tennis ball down your throat might be a little threatening. Regardless of how petty, a foot fault is against the rules--regardless of the time in the match. No suspension, but maybe some anger management classes and a fine of at least $100,000.00
The real racist in here are the ones claiming that she will claim racism..
Obviously, none of you haters saw her after comments...
She thought someone sad they'll kill her.. so she went off...
Id go off to, add to that the call in question, the game at stake...
People MAKE mistakes!! Get over it ..
All of you calling for suspension... how about we suspend joe wilson, the racist from SC.. wheres his suspension?
This is Tennis... McEnroe got famous for rants, no Serena is not McEnroe, but STOP asking for perfection when people are not perfect......
get over it
are you a dumb 10 year old or something? serena is not the one who thought she heard a death threat. there in fact was no such thing said. watch serena's after conference when she admits that she misheard the linesperson say that. its tennis, and the simple fact is that williams also acted like a ten year old in regards to following rules.
and really? your bringing joe wilson into this? the guy is an idiot but this is sooo off topic its ridiculous
Threatening an umpire is never a good idea--in any sport.
Ah sure, who could disagree with your sentiment. But, the reality is all you have to do is go sit at a little league game to hear b*tching and griping at calls and refs. These are everyday normal good people who lose there cool when nothing is really on the line, certainly not millions! I'd hate to see what these people would really do if they were in Serena's position. My bet is the same people criticizing now would be the same to criticize later. But yet, they gripe, "How could she...!" Come on, really?????
DWallace-369330 ...
Great point... that lines person cost her a close match. What I liked about Serena's response afterward was that she should have played better... No excuses.. She doesnt need any excuses.. It is strange how she is on the brink of becoming womens all time tennis champion, and things like this happen... but thats the nature of the game I suppose...
In an earlier post you implied that you know Serena personally.
If so, then you would know that she is nowhere near being on "the brink of becoming the women's all time tennis champion".
She is a legend - NO DOUBT. That she will be in the Hall of Fame is as certain as the sun coming up tomorrow. She is the best women's player right now - and of this generation.
But she is nowhere near eclipsing the records of Martina Navratilova (18 singles grand slams, most over all titles), Margaret Court (24 singles grand slams, most grand slam titles), or Steffi Graf (22 singles grand slams, most weeks at #1, only player to have won each grand slam at least 4 times).
Serena is absolutely a peer to these women - but her career, is impressive as it is, does not yet have the statistics to be compared with these women.
Lastly, I take exception to your comment that the "linesperson cost her a close match".
The foot fault put her match point down.
THE MATCH WAS NOT OVER.
Serena has come back from being down match point before. I would think you would know that. There is no greater fight in tennis than Serena Williams. I certainly hadn't counted her out at that point. I wouldn't have been surprised if she stepped up and smashed four aces in a row to level the match.
But she didn't.
The foot fault call did NOT cost her the match.
Her own words cost her the match.
Serena has owned up to that. You should, too.
Was the line judge non-black, just a pattern of where America is headed
You people in here are so judgemental.. I would loive to see you in the same exact situation, on a constant basis... And to learn in the end, there was no foot fault, that is WAS a mistake.. come one..
Most of yo have NO clue of the pressure...
There is no excuse for going off, but who in here is Perfect ??
Step up people.. prove you are PERFECT...
Cast the first stone..
I didnt think so.. so stop being so damn harsh....
Listen to the after interview...
Correction, we never claim to be perfect, neither did IMOS. Do not hold White stars to higher standards than Black. It feels different when the roles are reversed.
Prostregth, that is the lamest, stupidiest excuse I've ever herad. "I'm under pressure under a constant basis so I"m going to act like an @!$%# in front of this crowd and tell a judge that I'm wish I could shove a tennis ball down their @!$%#ing throat".
The after interview is the same crap she always vomits up. The poor liittle Bo Peep excuse of why she didn't win or why she's the best or etc., etc., etc.