In a Bizarre Ending, Clijsters Beats Williams

NY Times ^

[traumer]

Kim Clijsters Advances to Finals Over Serena Williams Williams looks a little somber as she begins her serve, then slaps a backhand into the net. Then she hits an ace. Balance returning. She’s got to keep the ball in play here and doesn’t, hitting another backhand into the net. Clijsters is two points from the match and the finals. She’s got to keep that out of her mind.

Williams goes up the T but misses, then foot faults. Scolding the lineswoman may help her get back her strength, but she’s down match point. Boos may also drive her back into the game. Brian Earley, the tournament manager, appears. An argument ensues. Williams is given a warning, which costs her a point. The match is over. Williams is heard to say: “I didn’t say I would kill you.” An argument on match point. Suddenly, Williams walks to the other side of the net and shakes Clijsters hand. It’s over. Has she defaulted? The lineswoman retreats to the exit. N

[devere]

“I hope this ends her tennis career; she doesn’t deserve to play in the pros again.”

Lots of luck with that! Only an unlikely indictment by the Queens County District Attorney for making terroristic threats can achieve that goal.

[comebacknewt]

“In a bizarre ending to his Presidency, Barack Obama was arrested and removed from the White House ...”.

Can you imagine?

Half the country would be rejoicing. The other half rioting in the streets.

[aposiopetic]

I wish she would conduct herself more like Venus, for whom I always root when the two play against each other.

[traumer]

Serena Williams: I Will Kill you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdYgc8DobUY

[nfldgirl]

When I watch that clip in full-screen mode (during the replay in slow motion), it looks to me that her left food was on the line. But it also seems that the call came a second or two beyond the point in which you would have expected a foot fault call. Hard to say for sure.

[nfldgirl]

I meant her left foot...not food! Sheesh! Time for bed!

[andyssister]

I agree. Kim seems very nice.
Just saw a replay on ESPN. At the ump chair when Serena says “I did not say I would kill you. Are you serious?” Someone in the stands yelled “Yes you did!”
Wow

[cydcharisse]

What the hell do you want the media to do? Call for her execution? Insist upon her retiring from tennis? Jail her for life?

She lost the match because of her stupidity, what’s your problem?

[ROTB]

Serves are judged by computer. Soon enough, we won’t have line judges that are not silicon either.

Can’t wait for this to come to basketball. I still remember Charles Smith hit a game tying 25 foot shot that was waived off as a 2 pointer, thus wrongfully losing the game.

[kenavi]

Serena bit the opponent’s ear.

[GnuHere]

I would like to know if they drug test after an incident like this, because otherwise I think it’s just random. She may have a fine to pay, but I dunno if the USTA or WTA can demand a test - since Serena’s a big draw, it would probably be in their best interests not to. I assume Nike is her biggest sponsor - they’d better get her reigned in.

[miele man]

Yes, she lost because of her own stupidity, as you say, but she went on a rampaging rant against an official. I saw her press conference later or all of it that CBS showed. In the conference her answers were evasive and deflective of her own behavior. Then several of the media asked softball questions of her and were making excuses for her. To her credit, she saw through that and said so. So yes, I fully expect the media to cover over her outrageous behavior and actions against the side judge. Read the NY Times article tonight and you’ll see the media spin is already at work.

I expect the media to fully, accurately and fairly report what she said to the judge and to describe her outlandish, profane and outrageous behavior. That will be enough...and fair. Most rational people can decide for themselves what they think of her once they know all of the facts. Why would you think I have a problem with that?

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Saije]

Ghettofabulous.

[bergmeid]

I found the press conference afterwards almost as offensive as the tantrum out on the court. What a joke. Yes it will be interesting to see what the left wing rags are going to say.

[iranger]

Sorry pay grade but the replay was inconclusive which is what you would expect because a camera that is not pointing directly down the line offers a view hindered by parallax. More to the point, foot faults are rarely called because they rarely occur. If/when they do occur they should be called just as net cord lets and all other lines are called despite the closeness of the calls. All players know the rules. Any player worried about toeing the line on serve are free to back up an inch or two. After all, if players want to claim there is no advantage to having their big toe cross the line, what does it matter if you back up an inch or two.

As soon as Serena f-d the official she was guilty of a code violation. It being her second, she forfeited a point and therefore the game.

In an earlier match this US Open, she repeatedly eyed down a linesperson who called a foot fault in an effort to intimidate them. No one said anything and the announcers laughed it off. Well look who's laughing now. Anyone who dislikes Serena has plenty of ammo.