Williams apologizes for ‘inappropriate outburst’
NEW YORK (AP)—Serena Williams apologized Monday for what she called her “inappropriate outburst” during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open.
Williams was short on contrition in the postmatch news conference after her profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a lineswoman Saturday night—and again in a prepared statement Sunday.
“I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst,” Williams’ latest statement said.
It was released by the U.S. Tennis Association about a half-hour before Williams and her sister, Venus, played in the women’s doubles final, which they won for their 10th Grand Slam title as a team. Given a chance to publicly deliver an apology during the postmatch ceremony, Williams declined.
“I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong,” her written statement said. “I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act—win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner. I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.”
Williams lost her temper after the lineswoman called a foot fault, resulting in a double-fault. That 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 semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5. Clijsters went on to win the championship Sunday.
Williams was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and could face further penalties—including a higher fine and a possible suspension—for what U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley described as her “threatening manner.”
In an interview, Curley also said the tournament considered—and decided against—preventing Williams from participating in the doubles final.
The Williams sisters beat defending champions Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2 Monday for their first U.S. Open doubles championship since 1999. Several spectators in the mostly empty stands showed support for the younger Williams, greeting her with shouts of “You go, Serena!” and “We love you, Serena!”
During the trophy ceremony afterward, Williams drew applause when she said: “I’d like to thank the fans for supporting me through everything. I really, really love you guys and never want to have a bad image for you guys.”
ESPN2’s Patrick McEnroe gave her a chance to publicly reiterate her apology, but Williams said: “I think I said it all.”
When McEnroe followed up by asking whether anything had “clicked” in her head, fans booed, and Venus quickly interjected: “What I think the crowd is saying is, ‘Patrick, let’s move on,”’ earning applause.
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I hope Serena truly sees what we see and appologizes sincerely to everyone, fans, judges, etc because her current apology that was released doesn't cut it.
Great win by Clijster's
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It tells me that you guys hated her way before this happened. Until you walk in some one else shoes please don't judge. Yes maybe she did get caught up in the moment and didn't handle things the way she used to but it does not give you people the right to talk about her the way you are doing.
It is so sad that you people wait for someone to slip once so you to can show your true card on how we really feel about her, not even looking at all the things that they been through over the years and how many times they have been cheated out of matches and Yes Kim was playing a great game and did have Serena on the ropes but it do not mean that she would have won because Serena has been in this position many times before. . YOU GUYS ONLY HATE HER BECAUSE SHE IS GOOD AND THAT IS SO SAD SHE TRUELY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ANY OFF YOU!! SO GET OFF HER BACK SHE KNOWS SHE MADE A BIG MISTAKE AND YOU GUYS WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT FOLLOWS HER FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE THATS HOW SAID THIS WORLD IS
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Good joke coward its funny...but you still suck.
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I copied the quote below directly from 1415, submitted by "@#$%"..... seems to me that the NHL is directly mentioned in the post. I replied because although you might not follow the NHL, millions of fans around the world, including many of us in the US, do follow it and do care that comments be factual. I don't think you wrote 1415.... so relax, we are in violent agreement that something should be done.
"NHL - Penalty or ejection at worst. Seriously this is the league that openly encourages fighting. Some awful things have been said over the years to and about refs with no consequences. "
As per my post, the above is completely wrong, as are many posts about this story.
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I think you have been smoking the whacko tobacco in between making those tacos, because intelligence is something you lacko!
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"This just proves that all the fame and fortune in the world won't change these misfits of nature. I wish they would ban her for good. Go play on an inner city team and leave the normal people alone."
You are another sorry excuse of what a man is suppose to be. "misfits of nature" & "normal people " You have to the BIGGEST coward you also hide behide the safety of a computer and dish it out. what real man you are. ha ha ha. All you poor prejudice barstards turn your tv's and computers and we all would be better off. You make sick to my stomach
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tomorrow during the doubles...
HEY PACO a couple more tacos over here
and a couple cold Pacificos, con limon por favor !!
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By the way, Abudeja. Do you have a brother called " Whadda '. I think I know him Whadda Yameen.
Get it? Whadda Yameen? What do you mean? Say hello to your brother Whadda for me.
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checked right then and there, just like they do when they protest out of bound calls for balls, and
check the line video for where the ball actually landed. the line judge should be punished, and
serena should be punished also, end of story. i knew immediately as soon as i saw the incident
happen that the race card would be played, and so it was, and so it will continue to be. playing the
race card each and everytime only adds to it becoming completely meaningless in the non-black
communities. my many black friends tell me that to constantly use the race card only hurts their worthy cause to seek justice and equality in our society, and i for one think that they know exactly
what they are talking about........
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How did I show that I know little about the NHL? Did I mention the NHL directly in my post? No I did not. So by not mentioning the sport at all, I am showing I know little about the NHL. If this was the case, then 99% of the US would know little about the NHL because it is a blip on the radar. I made a generic and correct post that if an athlete behaved like this in other sports they would be fined and suspended.
You have told me that i know little about a sport that i did not mention directly, but then you go ahead and prove my point by listiong examples of suspensions for similar behaviour. I don;t think you understood my post. I didn't mention the NHL, so by that i prove I know very little about it, but then you consolidate my argument by showing references of similar behaviour in the NHl being greeted with fines and suspensions.
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you are sorry excuse for a human being you racist pig. You hide behide computers you coward. You try to make yourself big by finding shortcoming in others. you r pitiful
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Snap to it Paco,
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Do us a favour and do your own research before you open your big, ill-informed mouth. Below is just one example of McEnroe being fined. Now shut up with your tired old race card crap!
" What is the price of madness? For John McEnroe, it will be $17,500, plus a two-month suspension, earned for his outburst at the US Open Saturday afternoon. Grand Prix supervisor Ken Farrar announced yesterday he had levied three fines totaling $7,500 against McEnroe, who will have 10 days to appeal after the US Open ends. "
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