Serena Williams’ profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a US Open linesperson drew a US$10,000 fine on Sunday, and more punishment could follow from a broader investigation into what the head of the tournament called her “threatening manner.”
The fine — not quite 3 percent of the US$350,000 in prize money Williams earned by reaching the semi-finals — 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 US$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.
Bill Babcock, the top administrator for Grand Slam tournaments, will review what happened on 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 semi-finals.
If Babcock determines Williams committed a “major offense,” the rules allow for a fine as high as all of a player’s prize money from the tournament — and a suspension, although Curley did not mention that as a possibility.
Williams was also docked US$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 semi-final with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.
After what may be recalled as the most significant foot fault in tennis history, Williams paused, retrieved a ball to serve again and then stopped. She stepped toward the official, screaming, cursing and shaking the ball at her.
“If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat,” Williams said, according to a tennis official who watched a replay on Saturday night.
The official also said Williams used the word “kill.” The official declined to be identified because the tape was still being reviewed.
Fans began booing and whistling, making it difficult to hear the entirety of what Williams said — and she refused to discuss specifics afterward at a news conference. An AP reporter — provided access to replays — could not verify Williams used the word “kill.”
When Williams turned her back, the line judge went over to the chair umpire to report what was going on. The line judge then returned to her seat, and Williams pointed and began walking toward her. The line judge then headed back to the chair umpire’s stand. By now, tournament referee Brian Earley was on the court, too.
Earley could be heard asking the linesperson what Williams said.
That’s when Williams walked over and said to the line judge: “Are you scared? Because I said I would hit you? I’m sorry, but there’s a lot of people who’ve said way worse.”
Earley again asked the linesperson what Williams said. Whatever the linesperson said, her reply seemed to startle Williams, who said: “I didn’t say I would kill you. Are you serious? Are you serious? I didn’t say that.” The line judge then said, “Yes.”
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