Posted on 09/13/2009 4:56:25 AM PDT by SkyPilot
Serena Williams, of the United States, argues with a line judge over a foot fault call during her match against Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. Clijsters beat Williams in 2 sets. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
NEW YORK -- 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.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktvu.com ...
Sounds like she could play in the NFL...National Felon League.
Beer time again on the White House patio?
The look on the spectators face, directly behind the linesman, says it all.
That is “pure D” disbelief at what he is hearing.
Just keepin it classy!
I kind of suspected the same thing. I believed also she was just so frustrated that she was losing to Clijsters.
She is obviously insulting and threatening the judge. She loses. Maybe she should take up hockey instead.
Youtube wants me to sign in or sing up. I’m not giving them any of my information.
Probably. Are tennis players tested?
To hell with the ill tempered wench.
Loser!
Don't go away angry, just go away.
I always thought of her as Mike Vick in a tennis outfit.
Going to contemplate? Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus, has been using the race card as his main form of communication since they began playing on the tour.
“I swear to God, I’ll f -— take this ball and shove it down your f — - throat. “
//
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-us-open13-2009sep13,0,5348697.column
As bad as this incident was, leaving a three-quarters-filled Arthur Ashe Stadium in near stunned silence, worse was Williams’ handling of the aftermath in a news conference. There, she had a chance to apologize, or maybe even fake some remorse. She did neither.
Instead, we got the usual, phony, sing-songy deflections and silly answers — all done with a big smile, as if she had just won, 6-0, 6-0.
Examples:
Question: What did you say?
Answer: What did I say? You didn’t hear? Oh.
Q. Do you think the lineswoman had any reason to feel threatened. Apparently she says she felt threatened?
A. She says she felt threatened. She said this to you?
Q. I’m just repeating what has been said that she told the chair umpire.
A. Well, I’ve never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don’t know why she would be threatened.
Q. Do you regret losing your temper both after the first set and after the foot fault?
A. I haven’t really thought about it to have any regrets. I try to — I’ve done — you know, I try to not live my life saying, I wish, I wish. But, you know, I was out there and fought and I tried and I did my best.
Q. You’ve always prided yourself on being an extremely forthright player, and with us here in the press room. Could you tell us what you said on the court, please?
A. I don’t think that’s necessary for me to speak about that. I’ve let it go, and I’m trying to better — to, you know, to get — to move on.
Q. Do you think the lineswoman deserves an apology?
A. An apology for?
Q. From you.
A. From me?
Q. Would you be interested to see if you actually foot faulted?
A. I’m pretty sure I did. If she called a foot fault, she must have seen a foot fault. I mean, she was doing her job. I’m not going to knock her for not doing her job.
Roid Rage?
“Serena knew she was getting owned by Kim and just took the easy way out. It’s her way of saving her ego”.
And there you have it. You nailed it. Kim deserved to win, she played beautifully and was focused, and Serena lost her cool because she thinks she’s number one. New York is going to remember this ugliness.
She had a nasty smirky smile at times during that presser - as if she knew she was caught. The racist arrogance (threatening a line judge) and thuggery of serena is disgusting!
Williams channels McEnroe....
Maybe that’s why she now is one of the celebrity/diversity owners in the Dolphins - I didn’t realize she wanted to play, but she has always looked like a running back or linebacker.
“Sounds like she could play in the NFL...National Felon League.”
....YEP! or at least the NBA.
Sista shooda capped that racist Biatch.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.