Serena Williams lost to unseeded, unranked Kim Clijsters 6-4, 7-5 at yesterday’s US Open semi final due to a penalty she received for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The penalty just happened to be match point.
“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,” Brian Earley the line referee said. “And it just happened that point penalty was match point. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Williams words to the umpire were, “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.”
Williams is called to the chair and is heard saying “I didn’t say I would kill you. Are you serious?”
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After the penalty, Williams went over to shake hands with Clijsters, who appeared stunned that she just won the match.
Williams went on to say in her postmatch news conference “I used to have a real temper, and I’ve gotten a lot better”. “So I know you don’t believe me, but I used to be worse. Yes, yes, indeed.”
Watch post match video
“I didn’t threaten [her]. I don’t remember anymore [what I said], to be honest. I was in the moment. And, you know, everyone’s fighting for every point. It was a really crucial point,” Williams said.
Asked if the line judge deserved an apology, Williams added: “An apology? From me? Well, how many people yell at linespeople? Players, athletes get frustrated. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen that happen.
“All year I’ve never been foot faulted, and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults. I said something that I guess they gave me a point penalty for. Unfortunately it was on match point.”
John McEnroe later said that ‘you can’t defend the indefensible.’ Sure it was a bad call, but you can’t just shoot off your mouth like that in a public match and not expect some consequences.
