Serena Williams has officially apologized to the tournament official she verbally assaulted Saturday night at the 2009 US Open.
Williams, who lost to eventual champion Kim Clijsters, wrote a formal apology on her official website Monday.
“I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, the USTA, and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst,” wrote Williams. “I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong.”
Serena’s management originally released a written apologetic statement of sorts on Sunday, but that only served to inflame the situation further as the former world number one failed to ask forgiveness for her actions.
“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,” continued Williams. “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.”
Serena even though you were wrong I just have to say that your humor and sportsmanship as a woman makes you the #1!!!!! Love and be blessed!!!!!!! :-)
Go girl, you did it and you deserve it…keep up the good work..
I can’t believe Serena, but Congratulations to Kim, she did amazing for just coming out of retirement.
I’m glad she finally apologised (at the third time of asking), but…
“pride”? She says that like it’s a good thing! In fact, it’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
“integrity”? Where was her integrity when she cheated her way to victory against Daniela Hantuchová at Wimbledon 2007?
Well Andrew, you are calling for Serena’s head on a stick are as so many others, but where was this zealous need to have people punished when Justine henin cheated at the 2003 french open, or when Martinez sanchez was not docked the point that she should have when the ball clearly touched her arm at a crucial stage of the game. I guess Serena sent the rain so that she could cheat against Hantuchova at wimbledon, so then where was her cheating powers when she faced Henin in the semi-final? seems to me she needed it then as well. I hope you’re never called to a jury Andrew, I would pray for the poor soul you’d have to render a verdict against.
People should learn the meaning of the word fair. Just because you hate Serena, does not mean that you overlook what others have done or what has been done to her in the past, and feast on her plight. And pride can be a good thing. For example, you should endeavor to pride yourself in how fair you can be to all people at all times.
Serena Williams apologized to the lines person and to the tennis community after thoughtful deliberation. Serena was already severely punished… by the negligible foot fault call she lost the possibility of winning this years U.S. Open tennis title.
Yes, there are far more egregious examples of bad sportsmanship in tennis, a few are named above, but there have been many many more. Serena and Venus took the hit of some of those injustices many times.
I say to those of you looking for more of Serena’s blood: she owes nothing further, she’ll pay the fine and it’s over, deal with it.
Regarding the coerced apology: Too little, too late. Fortunately, Serena’s tumultuous, self-centered career is nearing its end. Venus is the class act of the two.
1. I am not calling for Serena’s head on a stick, for I don’t believe in capital punishment. I do think she should be suspended from next year’s Majors, though.
2. Henin and Martínez Sánchez didn’t verbally abuse or physically threaten anyone. Their only sins were not to volunteer an admission when they should have done. Serena was way out of line to condemn them as she did. Who here can honestly say you would have owned up in the heat of such a moment?
3. Serena does not control the weather, but she did ask for a bathroom-break before two of Daniela’s service-games in the third set, and refused to go before her own serve in between. I also believe that she exaggerated her injury to the extent that we thought she was going to retire.
4. I hope I’m never called to a jury either, but I would never render a verdict unless I were 100% sure.
5. I don’t hate Serena, but I don’t condone her bad behaviour either.
6. You should indeed be fair to all people at all times – but not feel pride.
While I don’t condone Serena’s behavior, I will not condemn her either. I applaud her for being strong enough to step up and apologize. She is not the first, nor will she be the last athlete to have their most unglamorous moment exploited all over the airwaves and other media venues. It happens to the best of us. No one is perfect. As a big fan of tennis and a fan of Serena, I don’t feel that she owes me an apology. She rendered that to the appropriate people. She has learned and will censor herself in the future. If people choose not to watch her again, that is their loss. Life is much to short to hold grudges or be angry.
By the way, no one mentioned the fact that Roger Federer cursed on national TV. He had a right to be upset. While he may have wished to say it differently, he too was caught up in the heat of th moment. I still love Roger and won’t hold this against him either.
Lets all move on past this. There are far greater things in this world that we need to focus on than this episode.
Those are ridiculous responses Andrew. Serena has never taken a point she didn’t earn, good of you to minimise their inadmissions and cheating just so you can denigrate Serena some more. And what’s worse, you’re saying who here would admit to what they did in the heat of the moment, but Serena, who has always received bad calls and umpires ineptitude without insulting them, doesn’t get the same pass “in the heat of the moment”. Yeah, real nice of you Andrew, you’re a real fair guy.
Andrew, grow up and stop being overly punitive to poeple you happen to dislike. Women’s
tennis would suffer more than Serena if she were to be banned from majors. Who banned McEnroe? Get a grip, Andrew!
My take is that of course Serena was wronged by Justine and Martinez Sanchez, and had a right to feel aggrieved. But in this case, she directly insulted and threatened the lineswoman.
Her apology is sadly self-serving, pointing out what a fine passionate person she is who uncharacteristically got out of control under duress.
A proper apology AND amends would be to simply say, “My actions were wrong and inexcusable. I deeply regret the harm I caused these people and will do my very best to see that it never happens again. In addition, I shall do all in my power to see that the lines-woman is accorded full respect and standing. The call was hers to make and not mine to criticize, especially not in such unkind fashion.”
And then Serena should SIT DOWN, and make no self-congratulatory statements about what a superior athlete and competitor she is.
In addition, an African American woman who has experienced the racism which she has often described knows perfectly well that when she threatens a petite Asian woman in such fashion that the appearance of racial animus is obvious and unavoidable. This she should deal with in person to the lady, and hope she receives back some gracious public acceptance.
And FYI, I am a devout supporter of black rights and full and total respect for them in every situation. I have lived in family with black African people in the USA and Africa. Those of them who are truly wise and understanding do not tolerate racism BY black people My take is that of course Serena was wronged by Justine and Martinez Sanchez, and had a right to feel aggrieved. But in this case, she directly insulted and threatened the lineswoman.
Her apology is sadly self-serving, pointing out what a fine passionate person she is who uncharacteristically got out of control under duress.
A proper apology AND amends would be to simply say, “My actions were wrong and inexcusable. I deeply regret the harm I caused these people and will do my very best to see that it never happens again. In addition, I shall do all in my power to see that the lines-woman is accorded full respect and standing. The call was hers to make and not mine to criticise, especially not in such unkind fashion.”
And then Serena should SIT DOWN, and make no self-congratulatory statements about what a superior athlete and competitor she is.
In addition, an African American woman who has experienced the racism which she has often described, knows quite well that when she threatens a petite Asian woman in such fashion that the appearance of racial animus is obvious and unavoidable. This she should deal with in person to the lady, and hope she receives back some gracious public acceptance.
And FYI, I am a devout supporter of black rights and full and total respect for them in every situation. I have lived in family with black African people in the USA and Africa. Those of them who are truly wise and understanding do not tolerate racism BY black people because they want the moral horror of it to end, not be transferred to others.
Wow Khotsosofo…and look, it took you three days to come up with your version of what her apology should have been!!!
I truly hate when people want to take the sting out of what they’re saying by infusing things like “OH, I don’t hate Serena”, or “Oh, I have always been a supporter of black rights and I have black friends,” or “I am black so I can say these things”. Stand by your words people, stop trying to find justification for the things you say.
My take on the whole Serena brouhaha is this: Yes, perhaps it was terrible for her to berate the lineswoman in so coarse a fashion but, come on, from my point of view she had every right to lose it.
What no one is saying is that, in my opinion, Serena deserves an apology from the woman who called the foot fault and the USTA for not defending Serena’s outrage given the momentousness of the occasion. To call a foot fault AT THAT MOMENT given what was at stake was outrageous, one of the most egregious calls I’ve ever seen. Somebody please apologize to Serena. OK, I’ll do it. “I’m sorry Serena, and, by the way, you deserved to lose it.”
And how come no one is talking about Del Potro claiming he was not ready for the ace Federer served yesterday…also at a critical time? The Argentine was clearly ready and Federer served an unreturnable ace…clearly. I lost all respect for Del Potro at that moment. Sportsmanship my derriere. If Federer should play for another 10 years (and I hope he does), I’m certain I would never see him, a REAL champion and true gentleman, ever do such a thing to the person on the other side of the net. Gimme a break “I wasn’t ready.” Go back to Argentina and think about that one, Junior.
She has apologized and paid the fine and since it is a first offense,let us move on…. Not only that,she has been insulted,called names in various comments I have read,and her name has been tainted in a way, even her family has been insulted too,so let her move on already. Let the person who has no mud on his face be the first to cast the stone on her face. So?????
Too little much too late. Tennis was around before Ms. Williams it will be around long after she is just a memory.
Nobody could imagine she did it on purpose… just to avoid the humiliation of being beaten in 2 sets by a ex-new-rival?
Because, now the doubt will hang over the victory of Kim. The “What if…” syndrom…
Brainois
7. I neither like nor dislike Serena. On the positive side, she’s very useful for beating the players I do dislike, she can be fun to watch on court at times, and she can be quite charming off court at times.
8. Tennis-players get away with a lot of bad behaviour in the heat of the moment – and it’s only right to cut them some slack, because tennis is a very emotional game to play. But there’s always a line you don’t cross, and one of those dimensions is threatening someone.
9. Tennis needs to send out a clear message that behaviour that crosses the line will not be tolerated, and this message cannot be expressed adequately by mere words and money.
10. Why should McEnroe have been banned? I know he shouted insults at some umpires, but when did he ever cross the line into threatening behaviour?
I do not believe that Serena wrote or even read her apology to the official. She had an opportunity to state her apology when asked by P.Mac after the doubles final and BLEW the chance. Her fine was pocket change, she should have been suspended and her sponsors should drop her like a hot potato! SERENS, Nobody ever thought you WERE perfect! Get over yourself.
remember agassi….when already a reformed ‘good boy’.He served a 120mph ball at a lineswoman and then walked over and ‘inquired’ about her sex life. he was fined $1000 and a slap on the wrist..all things being equal