Video-Serena Williams Loses On Penalty Point At US Open For Outburst At Referee During Match With Kim Clijsters - YouTube | Tennis | Serena Williams

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9/13/09

Serena Williams Loses On Penalty Point At US Open For Outburst At Referee During Match With Kim Clijsters

Serena Williams Exhibits Roid Rage, Loses Match Against Kim Clijsters By A Penalty Point

Tennis, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters

Pat

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First, it was the shattering of her racket after the first set:

Then, it was the verbal assault on the line judge, allegedly including death threats, after getting called for a controversial foot fault:

I can't really blame Serena Williams for being upset. It looks like the foot fault was an awful call. I won't even hold it against her that she smashed her racket. That's not even close to the first time we've seen a tennis player do that. I've actually seen players smash their racket when they're not even upset... they just want to grab a new racket, since they bring about a dozen of them to their matches.

However, her reaction was far beyond the realm of that which is acceptable, and while I don't necessarily agree with her subsequent point penalty on match point, I can at least understand it.

Tournament referee Brian Earley explained the situation:

"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, and it just happened that point penalty was match point. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct."

It's an incredibly unfortunate situation for Serena, but it's entirely her fault.

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9/13/09

torontolui

13	i laughed when dick enberg said serena's behaviour was not that of a champion, wasn't john mcenroe sitting next to him?

9/13/09

Bashfulblue

0	Oh well.......

9/13/09

billywa

4	Gotta love the competitive fire, but certainly not the - - - - - - - image the - - - - - - - WTA wants to promote....

9/13/09

BigTone2475

6	couldn't have happend to a nicer person

9/13/09

torontolui

13	i laughed when dick enberg said serena's behaviour was not that of a champion, wasn't john mcenroe sitting next to him?

9/13/09

100%InjuryRate

6	torontolui wrote: i laughed when dick enberg said serena's behaviour was not that of a champion, wasn't john mcenroe sitting next to him? Hahaha, so true.

9/13/09

THE_Smoot

2	It's the weirdest ending I've ever seen in a tennis match.

9/13/09

JrCanuckFan

4	Just watched the recap on Sports Centre, and while the call was a poor one, her over-reaction was a tad extreme. Not sure a match should be awarded based on a penalty, but it is what it is. I bet she'll be a little more 'restrained" in the future

9/13/09

Pat

JrCanuckFan wrote:

Just watched the recap on Sports Centre, and while the call was a poor one, her over-reaction was a tad extreme. Not sure a match should be awarded based on a penalty, but it is what it is. I bet she'll be a little more 'restrained" in the future

Like the referee said, it's unfortunate that the match ended on that, but I think it's just like a football game or basketball game. If it's a penalty or a foul in the first quarter, then it should be called the same throughout the game. So if it's a point penalty in the first game of the first set, it's a point penalty at match point. As you said, I'm sure she will learn her lesson after this one.

9/13/09

aerockyulhim

(Edited by aerockyulhim)

Was it necessary to use the 'roid rage tag in the headline? Has that ever been something we associate Serena with? If this kind of reaction is what you'd call 'roid rage, then McEnroe and Roddick were/are huge steroid junkies along with countless others who can't control their anger on the court. That would also include me. I've broken my share of rackets and thrown them all over the place, but I've never touched steroids.

Unless I've missed some accusation about Serena 'roiding up, I think that's a pretty irresponsible headline

9/13/09

aerockyulhim

For those who think it was a dumb call or that it's not right to make the call because of the situation, I say why do they have the stupid rule then? Why don't they take it out? Is there a manual out there that says you can make this call in THIS situation, but you better not ever make it in THAT situation? I had to deal with that kind of BS in racquetball tournaments. Judges don't hesitate to call foot faults on amateurs, but if you make the call on any elite player (who is actually MORE likely to break the rule) you've gotta deal with a lot of complaining from not only the player, but their coach and their family and friends. If the rule wasn't meant to be enforced, why the hell is it there?

9/13/09

aerockyulhim

Pat wrote:

I wish more people took that stance to late-game calls

9/13/09

seanrrpsnm

2	Just very happy she lost .......nuff said!!!

9/13/09

bobbatbob

5	shame i wanted a 3rd set

9/13/09

k_chela

2	i like Serena and i felt bad

9/13/09

aurelius_44

2	The video above doesn't confirm the foot fault one way or the other. That said, the Williams sisters, Tiger, Favre, Jordan - I'm sick of hearing anything about each one of them.

9/13/09

alexander1000

I just can't believe that the US open officials as well as the referees on court are being yet again accused with racism. Serena acted like a total douche and was rightfully penalized. She didn't even apologize.
And for all the P.C fanatics that shout "Mcenroe,Mcenroe,Mcenroe":
1. What was accepted in the 80's isn't tolerated at all for the last 20 years.
2. I never heard Mcenroe saying something like: "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."

So shut it.

9/13/09

Poli_

7	torontolui wrote: i laughed when dick enberg said serena's behaviour was not that of a champion, wasn't john mcenroe sitting next to him? You CAN'T be serious!!!

9/13/09

michaeldreadmichael

3	I think Serena action was poor----she was out played!! and I think the sisters are getting a little jumpy---they are acting like they are bigger that the sport.. bad call or no bad call!!

9/13/09

shruthimolu

2	yes!i agree too..the william sisters r gettn out of the game..!

9/13/09

sankie227

4	i think she acted was over acting .....thinking she is the best ..but her attitude was simply horrible.

9/13/09

Thinkaboutit

"This is typical Serena Williams behavior when she is ~~losing~~ being cheated , and it doesn't surprise me one little bit. There are questionable calls all the time, but only Serena Williams thrives on situations like this so she has an excuse now to blame her loss on. It is funny I have never seen Roger Federer act like that, and contrary to popular opinion, breaking tennis racket's does not occur with the frequency implied.

Kim Clijsters is one of the nicest and classiest players on the WTA, and Serena Williams, just as her sister Venus, lost to the better player foot fault not withstanding. Personally it is a great comeback story as I believe only Justine Henin or one of very few who have beaten The Williams sisters back-to-back. Gotta love those Belgians, Yeah !!!!!!!!!! "

9/13/09

mrblacktrust

2	how can you say it was her fault. who in there right mind would call a foot fault that late in the game knowing that it could change the outcome of the match. and in all actuallity it wasn't even a foot fault. sure she was wrong for loosing her cool and berating the line judge but i do believe that most people would have done the same thing. anybody with any kind of competive nature

9/13/09

MarkTheShark

6	I'll just say that the WTA MUST investigate that line official. There absolutely was NO foot fault. Serena is Serena and reacted as was expected. I wanna believe that Venus would not have behaved that way. She always seems to be more contemplative and less emotional than younger Serena. Horrible call but Clijsters was likely to win that match anyway.

9/13/09

Blends

1	Clijsters was kicking Sernea's butt all over the court yesterday.....it was just a matter of time before Clijsters won the match. I love Serena but Clijsters is playing like a champion!

9/13/09

JrCanuckFan

Pat wrote:

I agree 100%, if they call it in the beginning, they have to call it all the way thru. I'm curious about replays, because in watching this tournament there are challenges to see if a ball is in or out, why not for the foot? Would not the simplest thing have been to review the called foot fault? Sorry for my ignorance, but I haven't watched tennis for a while and I'm out of the loop.

9/13/09

ChargerJim

aerockyulhim wrote:

Very well put! I am so sick of the liberal use of the term"Roid Rage" as well. It's pretty shallow and narrow-minded to use such a broad brush to paint everyone who loses their cool as having "Roid Rage." Thanks for posting that.

9/13/09

dragn_lover

MarkTheShark wrote:

I'll just say that the WTA MUST investigate that line official. There absolutely was NO foot fault. Serena is Serena and reacted as was expected.
I wanna believe that Venus would not have behaved that way. She always seems to be more contemplative and less emotional than younger Serena.
Horrible call but Clijsters was likely to win that match anyway.

I agree with you...there was no foot fault
but serena should have held her tongue a bit bad call or not

9/13/09

dragn_lover

3	sad ending to a bad match while the call was bad....really bad! serena should have behaved better and held her tongue. yes she was angry.....and she had every right to be, there is no excuse for such behavior on or off the court. and I do think the WTA MUST investigate that line official!! there absolutely was no foot fault

9/13/09

tharanidharan123

0	huhuh....all talents....no pain no gain....

9/13/09

sprode

Over/under on how long it takes daddy to issue a statement blaming someone for her loss? Maybe it'll be the racism card again.

I try to maintain respect for Serena, but after incidents like Indian Wells and now at the US open, it's pretty much impossible. So much whining and disrespect and excuses coming from that camp 24/7... I'll be the first to say "a foot fault? wtf?" since you never see it at this level, but come on Serena... have a little dignity. When you exceed Connors and McEnroe.. you're just embarrassing us Americans, our tennis, and the sport in general.

I'm done trying to defend her just because she's of my nationality and a champion at that - the truth is, Clijsters just owns her. To all the masses that assumed a Williams would win this match, I say... welcome back Kim.

It's a shame you and Henin ever left.

9/13/09

daddybair33

2	spoiled kids grow upto be spoiled brats , she deffinately knows better. at the press conferance she acted like she was8.GET OVER YOURSELF. she is as big as a man, yeah she scared and threatened that lady, BULLY .

9/13/09

daddybair33

1	we are talking about two totally differant people, we expected it with mcenroe,we did not ever expect it from her . she has always "acted" like she was bette than that. we know better now

9/14/09

MarkTheShark

daddybair33 wrote:

spoiled kids grow upto be spoiled brats , she deffinately knows better. at the press conferance she acted like she was8.GET OVER YOURSELF. she is as big as a man, yeah she scared and threatened that lady, BULLY .

I actually thought she was fine in her press conference. She owned it. She said that Clijsters "played really well" and "an incrdible match" and "had a plan"
She was "fine and knew it was a point penalty" and then she walked over to Clijsters.
She said she needs "calming lessons"
She was prompted by one media person that he had seen worse that went without a penalty and she was going to agree and complain but she caught herself and said you know what I'm fine I have to move past this.
What exactly did you want her to say?

9/14/09

Thinkaboutit

1	Win!!

9/15/09

nirav22120012008

0	I love his power game.

9/15/09

michaeldreadmichael

0	(Edited by michaeldreadmichael) Lets all forget serena-what ever happen to her its he fault---also the line judge is a joker!!

9/15/09

cutetrue_16d1

0	SHE IS A GOOD PLAYER BUT IT IS A GAME SUM ONE WINS & SUM LOSE... THE THING SE HAS DONE WITH CLIJSTERS WAS WRONG...

9/15/09

benbrus123

0	cutetrue_16d1 wrote: SHE IS A GOOD PLAYER BUT IT IS A GAME SUM ONE WINS & SUM LOSE... THE THING SE HAS DONE WITH CLIJSTERS WAS WRONG... yeah it is true

9/15/09

murtalaango

1	you know that not every champion will like to loose a game.

9/15/09

lanracisse

1	well! she is only human, hey she has brought more fans to the game of tennis then any other. She is great for the sport. Tennis wouldn't be what it is today, if not for her.

9/18/09

daddybair33

0	daddybair33 wrote: spoiled kids grow upto be spoiled brats , she deffinately knows better. at the press conferance she acted like she was8.GET OVER YOURSELF. she is as big as a man, yeah she scared and threatened that lady, BULLY . you mean some anger management.

9/19/09

abnvinox

0	in every game there are rules to be followed, you could get away with some and some you don't, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. She's a bad bad bad loser. The reason why she acted like that is that her EGO is way above her head and is as big as her ASS!