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Serena finally apologises for foot-fault rant

Sep 14, 6:23 pm EDT

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* Serena apologises for tirade

* Wins Open doubles final with Venus (updates after Serena news conference)

By Steve Ginsburg

NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Serena Williams finally apologised on Monday for her angry outburst aimed at a lineswoman during her U.S. Open semi-final against Kim Clijsters.

Williams issued a statement on Sunday conceding she had “handled the situation poorly” but did not apologise to anyone involved in the incident.

The 27-year-old world number two, however, changed her tune the following day in a news conference after she teamed up with her sister Venus to win the Open doubles crown.

“I really wanted to apologise sincerely, because I’m a very prideful person and I’m a very intense person and a very emotional person,” she said. “I think it all showed.”

Williams said she wanted to apologise “first to the lineswoman, to the USTA (U.S. Tennis Association), and my fans most of all, and to Kim Clijsters”.

With Clijsters closing in on the victory on Saturday night, Williams was called for a foot-fault on a second serve to give the Belgian a match point.

Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the lineswoman, saying in part, “I swear to God I’m … going to take this ball and shove it down your … throat.”

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Having already received an earlier warning for smashing a racket, Williams was handed an automatic point penalty for a second violation which gave Clijsters the match.

When asked by the media in the post-match news conference if she believed she should apologise, Williams replied: “An apology? From me? Well, how many people yell at linespeople?”

But after two days of negative headlines and with the threat of a ban from the tour hanging over her, Williams’s stance softened once tennis officials fined her $10,500 and launched an investigation into the incident.

“I definitely think an apology was warranted,” she said. “I just felt like the other one (Sunday’s statement) was an apology, as well. This one I wanted to make sure that I also congratulated Kim.”

Williams does not believe she committed the foot fault.

“I don’t think my foot touched the line in that call,” she said. “Looking back on it, I think the lady did the best that she could. She was just doing her job.”

The Williams sisters won their second Open doubles crown with a dominating 6-2 6-2 victory over top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber.

When Serena was asked what she would like to say to the lineswoman, she responded: “I would like to give her a big ole hug and say, ‘Let’s just put it all behind us like I have and just move on from it’.” (Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Updated Sep 14, 6:23 pm EDT
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15 Comments

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  1. Truthsayer
    15. Posted by Truthsayer Thu Sep 17 2:47pm EDT

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    post 14..........Um, you start off your post stating the foot fault doesn't matter...........then spend the rest of your post describing the foot fault. lol..............but for that bogus call, Serena would have played on.........even Clijsters told the reporters she couldn't say if she would have beat her without help of the penalty pt..........because Serena won her 1st Slam in the same way........BEFORE the USO started cheating to ensure Serena would lose.
  2. Catmanbleu
    14. Posted by Catmanbleu Tue Sep 15 9:49pm EDT

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    I can't believe the number of people who mention the foot fault as part of this argument. It isn't. The problem is that this hulk of a woman terrorized a 4'8" little woman, threatened to jam a tennis ball down her throat and kill her. No matter who you are, how much passion you have for anything, that is a threat that is punishable under law. The broken racket has nothing to do with it either; what John McEnroe did twenty years ago has no bearing, facts; that is all that counts. And the facts are, she threatened a little lady who was scared to death of her, and Serena will have pay for that. Since it seems validate her outrageous tirade to say there was no foot fault, well you are wrong. There was a foot fault because the lines person called it. John McEnroe cannot uncall a foot fault, and he has the same vantage point we had on TV. Her foot was next to the line, and when she tossed, it moved ever so slightly, enough to see it, and a foot fault was called. It is the rules that your foot must not touch the line. No overlooking because it is a critical point, no overlooking because two champions are playing, no overlooking it period. Foot fault.
  3. Eric P
    13. Posted by Eric P Tue Sep 15 6:26am EDT

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    Although better than before, this "apology" is still lacking.

    “I really wanted to apologise sincerely, because I’m a very prideful person and I’m a very intense person and a very emotional person,” she said. “I think it all showed.”

    Translation:

    "I really wanted to apologise sincerely, because I have excuses for what I did and it was normal behavior for me."

    After two days she finally apologizes, not because she really wants to, but because she doesn't want to get more punishment and lose sponsors and big bucks. Probably the USTA told her what she had to say in order to not be banned from the next US Open.
  4. manly
    12. Posted by manly Tue Sep 15 3:55am EDT

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    Serena Williams knows that an in-depth investigation could possibly lead to forfeiture of her semi-final prize money, or worst being banned. USD 300k is a lot, no matter how rich you are. So, she decided to apologize. Clever girl.
  5. Truthsayer
    11. Posted by Truthsayer Mon Sep 14 11:46pm EDT

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    Serena did not owe that linesman sh!t................but she was right about her fans..........especially the youngons.............who are impressionable...........and the USTA, because she promised to follow the rules which she broke...............but that little lady made a bad call...........and that weak umpire backed her............so, the 'finally' is incorrect since she already released a statement................well, she won today, so let bygones be bygones..............eventually. lol.
  6. Robbie
    10. Posted by Robbie Mon Sep 14 4:03pm EDT

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    For the record, the line judge made an unfair call. There was no foot fault. None at all. Dont misquote John McEnroe. He said even if there was a slight touch the judges at that point should use descretion and not make a call. He only said that because no replay could show a fault. There was no after play that showed a foot fault. Thats why John made that comment. The USTA viewed every replay no one can show a fault. The lines person made a bad call. Thats is in keeping with the trend of bad calls for her at the US Open. Serena fool around in that first set and let it slip. She has no one to blame but herself. Its unfortunate Kim won in that manner. Bad call or not she should show more restrain.

    We will know how corporate America take it. How many major corporation considering withdrawing sponsorship? Thats a sign of the severity of her action. Keep an eye on that. When the WTA-USTA spoke about her action may cause adverse reputation on the tour they are gunning for reasons. But the demise of the WTA will not be from Serena's outburst its from the lack of good management to promote the tour and to achive profits and sustain growth over the years.

    USTA-WTA not surprisingly will team up to teach her a lesson. Over the past months Serena has been vocal about the folly of the WTA ranking system. Watch out for the Vindictiveness.
  7. Ms Energi
    9. Posted by Ms Energi Mon Sep 14 3:15pm EDT

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    I feel about the whole situation she is a professional player and eager to win as in anyone in her position

    But why every time a black athelete gets in the slightes of trouble they want to take every bit of there previous earninngs, winnings, titles, lively hood as if the hard work prior wasnt earned on an honest level bull@#$% bull@#$% now what the hell could have been said that horrible
    Im willing to bet if they could take away talent they would

    Bottom line on this is that the @#$% is to poweful in this arena and they need a clever way to kick her out without showing there true colors


    So thats my take on this and good luck serena baby knock them dead or hit one in the face with an ace
  8. ianm
    8. Posted by ianm Mon Sep 14 3:11pm EDT

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    Oliver J - You are no better than Serena. You can not berate Serena for her vulgar language and call her an "ape" at the same time. What a dumb dumb you are. Very illogical.
  9. oliver j
    7. Posted by oliver j Mon Sep 14 3:04pm EDT

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    Serena has finally realized she made a primitive ape out of herself. All the wealth and fame could not cover the ugliness that is in her character. No wonder I've always rejoiced in every defeat that she gets. Poor girl...
  10. Jason
    6. Posted by Jason Mon Sep 14 3:00pm EDT

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    Ah, so she "admits when she's wrong". But she doesn't admit it right away, does she? It takes an unprecedented backlash for it to happen.
  11. John S
    5. Posted by John S Mon Sep 14 2:50pm EDT

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    #4- No correction by US open judges is necessary because the correct call was made. Serena should make adjustments and perhaps stand a foot back from the baseline to ensure her carelessness doesn't cause foot faults in the future.
  12. Phu N
    4. Posted by Phu N Mon Sep 14 2:26pm EDT

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    That is a professional and a great person does. Don't afraid to stand up against unfair doing, but know right from wrong.

    So, what correction actions are taken by the US Open judges for their poor performance. Don't the audiences desire their apologies for their poor skills?

    After Federer-Djokovic semifinal, it is questionable if the US Open tennis judges involve in any betting on tennis games. Too many ridiculously unfair calls that drained the oneside player's enthusiasm to complete in important matches. Besides the players, who can impact a tennis game outcome?
  13. Larry
    3. Posted by Larry Mon Sep 14 2:21pm EDT

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    good luck on ur doubles final today serena
  14. BD
    2. Posted by BD Mon Sep 14 2:12pm EDT

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    John McEnroe sucks. He said the the line judge should not call foot fault for Serena at that critical moment of the game. The rule is the rule. Serena should be banned from tennis forever. And the line judge should sue Serena of verbally threatening her. In the mean time, McEnroe should be fired from ESPN. I am getting tired of hearing his stupid comments.
  15. Truthsayer
    1. Posted by Truthsayer Wed Sep 9 2:48am EDT

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    Yea, Serena! ..........WIN this!..........Make this an 8-1 record over Clijsters. You can do it!
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