Serena Williams Foot Fault US Open 2009 Outburst (Photos, Video)
UPDATE: Serena Williams On Probation For F-Bomb Outburst
What did Serena Williams said to the line judge?? The Serena William vs. Kim Clijsters US Open 2009 semi-final match ended dramatically after Serena Williams’ unacceptable outburst at a line judge.
UPDATE: Serena Williams Press Conference VIDEO
Serena was serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set and faulted on her first serve. On the second serve, a line judge called a foot fault, making it a double-fault, which made the score 15-40, putting Kim Clijsters one point from victory. Then Serena turns to the judge yelling, cursing and threatening the line judge.
Dropping the f-word liberally, Williams said, “I swear to God I’m [expletive] going to take this [expletive] ball and shove it down your [expletive] throat, you hear that? I swear to God.”
When the line judge went over to the chair umpire, tournament referee Brian Earley and Serena joined them, and the 27 year-old player was heard defending herself, saying, “Sorry, but there are a lot of people who’ve said way worse. I didn’t say I would kill you. Are you serious? I didn’t say that.”
The decision was made. Serena was assessed a point penalty for a code violation of unsportsmanlike conduct, which gave the stunned Kim, who didn’t exactly know what was going on, the match.
“She was called for a foot fault, and a point later, she said something to a line umpire, and it was reported to the chair, and that resulted in a point penalty,” Earley explained. “And it just happened that point penalty was match point. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Despite the controversy, Serena would most probably have lost the match anyway and Kim Clijsters is the fair winner. Kim and Caroline Wozniacki will compete for the US Open 2009 title on Sunday (September 13).
Serena Williams Temper Tantrum Photos
Serena Williams Foot Fault Tantrum Video
[images: wenn.com]
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[...] player Serena Williams tried to explain the unexplainable after her US Open 2009 semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters due to a point penalty on a match point for [...]
This happens with ugly uneducated religious fanatical people like serena and what with her panties why showing her ugly parts to everybody are there rules how to dress….
For all her bravado of being a “witness to Jehovah”; Serena’s lack of control and utterly offensive threat and language as well as “swearing to god (small g)” proves the true personality versus the composed rhetoric otherwise. She needs to personally apologize to the linesperson. No excuses! She lost control at a time when she needed to be under control. Her behavior is her shame.
A most unfortunate end to this contest. However congratulations to Kim Clijsters for beating both Willliams sisters in the same tournament which is very rare.
Please show a video of the “foot fault” and explain the foot fault rule. I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding of what constitutes a foot fault. I also think that Serena was feeling harassed by the foot fault calls since she had never had a problem w/footfaults in the past.
Nike needs to drop Serena’s endorsements for this despicable act of unsportsmanlike behavior. “JUST DO IT” Nike! S.Williams doesn’t even realize her thuggish behavior towards the tiny little lines person. Enough is enough. I would forgive her in a New York second but she displayed no remorse during her post match interview. I feel she should be suspended from the WTA Tour for three months to reflect on her behavior so she can realize the privilege she has to play and perform at a level very few will ever get the opportunity to realize. She represents her country, her family and tennis in general. What an embarrassment to her family. There has to be consequences for this type of behavior. Despicable is the only word I can think of.
Serena Williams needs to be thrown out of tennis for a year; be forced to apologize to the Asian female lines person she assaulted (yes, assaulted); be forced to apologize to the U.S. Open, its sponsors, all persons who attended and witnessed her thug, street fighter, steroid-induced hostility, and to all persons who watched the match on television.
She made tennis ugly and violent. She physically threatened that Asian lines person.
Was it steriods? Has she been tested?
If someone with her muscles came at me with that much raw anger, cursing at me, threatening to shove a tennis ball down my throat, pointing and waving a tennis racquet at me, I’d feel threatened. God all mighty.
What a disgrace to the sport in front of the world!
The foot fault call should probably not have been made. But Ms. Williams profanity filled threats is just without defense. She was totally out of line and without class to act this way. It demeans the game and sets a poor example for young players, in addition to having no place in the game. Ms. Williams owes everyone an apology, not a statement to the effect that she doesn’t remember what she said.
Her actions were way out of line. Perhaps it was roid rage?
What Serena cannot seem to remember, those of us watching the match observed. Serena, what you said was, “I’m going to take this tennis ball and shove it down your f___ing throat.” or something near that exact. There was definitely the f-bomb and the description of shoving a ball down the official’s throat. Then in the after match press conference, you have the gall to say that you’ve never been in a fight, and you can’t understand why the official felt threatened by you! This is an example of the entitlement that professional atheletes feel when they reach a certain level – the rules do not apply to them. Not only should she have the penalty imposed, but this was an eggregious act, and according to the US Open rules, she should be ousted from all other tournament play, fined by the USTA and suspended from participating in any other tournaments for the rest of 2009. Maybe then Serena will realize that the rules of conduct apply to her Highness, just like they do to everyone else.
serena has been down a match point before and come back to win, no way was the match decided. And how much money have the Williams sisters made for the USTA, WTA, and the US Open over the past decade?? I think the tournament really screwed this up, they ought to show their star-players more respect than to witch-hunt them on laughable foot-faults.
It wasn’t even a foot fault for God’s sake. I would be more than pissed off it that happened to me.
Serena clearly says to the line judge ” Are you scared because I said I would to hit you?, I’m sorry but there’s a lot of people who said way worse ” Quote , audible on this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-VxYvfwVas 1:42 to 1:52 watch and listen and learn
This has been kept out of any and all “reporting ” of this event. She admits she threatened to hit her. That is communicating a threat and is against the LAW in any State.
I think she should be suspended from playing tennis for one year~!!
The FINE should be $250,000~!!
I really think that Serena could have comeback and beat Kim, it sucks that it had to turn out this way, better luck next year we need an American to win at the US OPEN.
Can somebody at least and last tell us others whether it was a foot fault or not??!!!
welll they are still looking for that great white hope …gotta get it somehow…lol….there are no angels in sports…she did nothing that your other million dollar sports players do…get oer it …she vented…no big deal…we know what the reall issue is here…wake up …
Maybe Barrack Obama could invite her to the White House for a beer. Seems everyone is picking on famous Black people lately. Serena Williams is a jerk….
Did she actually foot fault? If so, she should be suspended and/or fined. If not, she was cheated out of her opportunity by not being able to challenge the call. Let’s see the actual foot fault before we all jump to conclusions. There is one thing that is definite however, her foul language was not commensurate with her Christian values she so strongly voices, typical Christian hypocrisy.
Both Williams sisters look like great big ugly line-backers. Just because they are black does not give them preferential treatment. What do we have now? “Affirmative action sports”? Good on those who had the bravery to stand up to this BAB (big angry black). These sisters are not, repeat NOT, the darlings of the whole wide world. Such filthy language is typical of low class blacks; in fact, it seems to be the first word they learn in their vocabulary–somewhere around the age of four.
She deserved to lose the points/match for such disgusting behavior….if Kim had done the same she would have been crucified….sorry Serena, an apology does not repair things. So tired of obnoxious “celebrities” who act-out badly , and certain ones feel very justified,. No!
The Williams sister are notorious for having some “event” happen whenever they start losing in a major event. Stomach cramps, sore legs, loud fans, unfair calls … the list goes on and on. When it looks like they are going to lose, they always seem to posture for some excuse. As for the foot fault line judge call – the reason they are “judges” is because they make a “judgement” call. Right or wrong, in sports the call is the call. She didn’t go and ask “please review the call” or “when you review the call you will see it wasn’t a fault”. She just did what spoiled media-filled brats do – stomp and cuss. They should do what you do wiht all children…make them write and apology.
There’s no excuse for such an outburst like that from Serena. To threaten a line judge, is unacceptable. She should have been thrown out of the US Open altogether and should be barred from playing in 2010. A fine is not enough. Did any of you see her lame apology? Terrible! Have lost all respect for this mindless child.
Foot fault or not, there is a defined process for challenging line judges calls and it does not involve waiving your racquet in a threatening manner or verbally abusing the official.
Sure Serena is a great tennis player(as far as the statistics are concerned) and has the admiration of thousands of young tennis players throughout the world. Kids who think she is the greatest tennis player ever.
What did her outburst show all of those kids about how disputes in tennis, or in life for that matter, should be handled?
Serena, you’ve proven yourself to be a poor role model as a tennis player and a person.
What Serena did was wrong. It is equally wrong to say ugly things about her and her sister. Serena and Venus are not ugly peole. She has been gracious in defeat many many times prior to this one incident. She has also a role model up until this episode. Forgive her and give her another chance. She deserves a chance just like the rest of us. We all had our own episodes of melt down..only difference is this one happened on the world’s stage.
Oh please, get over it! She was fined $10,000 and some change and admitted she was wrong. She’s human and in the heat of the moment yelled some profanity. It’s not the end of the world. Stop taking this opportunity to be mean-spirited and saying nasty things. Why all the hate? At least she had a reason to get heated up about. You people can’t wait to pounce on somebody. Does it make you feel powerful typing your nasty remarks on an internet site behind your safe little screens? Get a life! P.S. Serena and Venus are beautiful!
@attorney girl: Totally agree with you! I would also say some big athletes (if i may say world athletes) need a serious personality and anger management
[...] amount of $82,500 and will be on probation for the nest four Grand Slam events because of her unexplainable and unacceptable f-bomb outburst against a line judge at the 2009 US Open (read more details and [...]
I find it hilarious what people have to say about Serena. Of course, her reaction to the “foot fault” was ridiculous and uncalled for, but to make racist statements and generalize black people is just as stupid. How is it you feel justified being ugly toward Serena, while at the same time judging her for her ugliness toward the lines person. Also, Serena’s size shouldn’t be taken into account when becoming angry as if short, skinny people are the only ones aloud to lose their temper. For those that say she should be fined these huge amounts and taken from the game for a year, what if when you lose your temper with your children they were taken from you for a year, then you were fined $250,000? I think what people should do is think of every person as a human being then we’ll all treat people with the respect, courtesy and patience they deserve. Let’s all relax and learn to keep our composure. That goes for Serena and all the lovely commenters on this page.
what is not happening wit these camera guys why cant you always look for the good side
It is beyond sad that several comments went to race. As a black woman I was not proud of Serena’s comments and reaction. It feeds the stereotype that most want to believe about black women. Her outburst was not unique and should not be singled out as a crime. I fully understand that race blinds and colours our views about each other. From every credible site I have read the foot fault was clearly not proven therefore the player should get the benefit of the doubt. Ms. Williams was correctly but unfairly fined. In addition the lineswoman should also have been suspended from future matches at this high level because obviously the occasion overwhelmed her.