Serena Williams Out At The U.S. Open After Allegedly Threatening Line Judge?
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
news, video
10:30PM, Saturday September 12th 2009
Now, I don’t really watch tennis, though I did go to the U.S. Open once and it was funzies. But tonight I’m at home because it’s nasty outside and that’s how cool I am, so I’m watching a little bit because I think Serena Williams is rad. So all of the sudden, like, something happens and the referee on the side—a line judge I have read—makes a call saying Serena did something bad. In technical sports terms, the Los Angeles Times says Serena was called for a foot fault, whatever that means. But then the sports announcers were like, “Nuh uh, she didn’t do that.” Serena didn’t seem to believe it either because she started yelling at the line judge. Then the line judge was like, “Bitch, no you didn’t” and went to the main judge sitting in the big tall chair, and she told him what was going on and then Serena was like, “What? I didn’t say I would kill you!” Then the big judge docked Serena some more points and, lo and behold, Williams lost then and there to her opponent, Kim Clijsters. You can watch the whole thing above. I promise to put up a better quality video as soon as possible. Drama on the courts! [LA Times]
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_jsw_
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 10:00 pm: [report]
Normally, I’d say she was screwed, because it does seem to have been a bad call (time for replays in tennis, perhaps?), but in this case, her incredibly unprofessional behavior, both before (broken racket) and after this call makes it impossible for me to take her side on it.
effing hickster
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 10:40 pm: [report]
During the service motion, the server shall not:
a. Change position by walking or running, although slight movements of the feet are permitted; or
b. Touch the baseline or the court with either foot; or
c. Touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline with either foot; or
d. Touch the imaginary extension of the centre mark with either foot.
If the server breaks this rule it is a “Foot Fault”.
Case 1: In a singles match, is the server allowed to serve standing behind the part of the baseline between the singles sideline and the doubles sideline?
Decision: No.
Case 2: Is the server allowed to have one or both feet off the ground?
Decision: Yes.
As she swung, she was in the air. However, it looked to me that her left foot touched the baseline as she shifted during her preparations for the swing (during the backswing).
As for what she said to the line judge, CBS had their camera to the back of Serena’s head the whole time. You couldn’t see what see said, only the finger point.
I don’t think Serena would say something to the effect that she would kill someone. That’s just crazy talk. I don’t think even John McEnroe, or anyone else, ever said such a thing, either. However, McEnroe was much more of a baby, so why should the line judge react that way towards a finger point from Serena? But Serena was pointy, and hand-on-hippy a little bit.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 02:51 am: [report]
jsw, when did she break her racket?
hickster, nice summary of the rules, but the jury is still out on whether that is what happened. I mean seriously, she’s been doing the same thing for probably 20 years. I don’t see how she could screw up up her footing, much less threaten the line judges life.
ScienceGal
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 08:54 am: [report]
It clearly looked like her foot was on the line to me, but just barely. Either the line judge has an eagle eye or was being unnecessarily hard on her, but Serena’s behavior doesn’t get any sympathy from me. Her quitting just makes her look like a big baby.
AChanceAtHeaven
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:11 am: [report]
Too much drama, mama! Slow down, honey, and look at the replay - you’re clearly in penalty.
_jsw_
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:13 am: [report]
@CheeeeEEEEse: The linked article said:
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:25 am: [report]
Gotcha.
*sam*
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:26 am: [report]
doesn’t tennis have an “un-sportsman-like conduct” rule or something similar? if not, they obviously should.
Dave The Rave
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 10:55 am: [report]
She slammed her racket down after the first set, then picked it up and threw it down again and messed it up. Code violation.
Her foot (toe) DID touch the baseline, so that IS a foot fault.
The fact that the penalty point decided the match ws a bummer, but that’s the way things go.
As for her playing, she has played for about 10 years or so, not 20.
Still, John McEnroe just happened to be playing tennis when the coverage of it was getting to be more and more, so that’s why we got to hear him say - “Are you KIDDING ME!!??”
maroon
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 10:58 am: [report]
if you read the si.com article, she admits that the judge was right for the foot fault. but to deny that she told the line judge “i’m going to shove this tennis ball up your [bleep]” because she was “in the moment?” puhleeze. her temper had already flared when she lost the first match, and she should have taken it down a couple of notches after that.
Alexa
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 11:00 am: [report]
@Sciencegal, she didnt’t “quit.” The umpire gave her opponent the match point, which ended the game.
And though relatively rare, people are called for foot faults from time to time. To me, based only on the angle we got to see it on the video, it did appear that she touched the line. Regardless of whether she actually foot faulted or not, though, the appropriate response would’ve been to appeal to the chair, not go off on the line umpire, especially with a barrage of curse words and threats.
@sam, the final point was awarded because of unsportsmanlike conduct.
@effing hickster, Serena explained during the post-match interviews that she misunderstood what someone said with respect to the “I’ll kill you” comment. Once the line umpire cleared that up on court, she didn’t say anything else about it.
effing hickster
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 11:21 am: [report]
Huffington Post had an AP New York quote from Serena during the match:
<Instead of stepping to the baseline to serve again, Williams went over and shouted and cursed at the line judge, pointing at her and thrusting the ball toward her.
“If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat,” Williams said.>
That’s a pretty serious threat, I figure. However, once the discussion with the judges was over, she backed down, realizing she’d lost the match. It seems during the press conference later, she forgot what she said. Hmmm. Fishy.
Open mouth, insert foot.
40yrolddad
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 01:24 pm: [report]
the foot fault is one of the three least-enforced rules in tennis (the others being the theoretical 30 second service clock & the ban on in-match coaching) but it IS a rule. it’s also a big pet peeve of mine when playing (I’d conservatively say 40% of recreational players do it nearly every time)! that said, Serena _CLEARLY_ makes contact in the air, well before her foot lands, which is the “spirit” of the rule even if she starts her motion w/her foot clipping the back of the line which, unfortunately, technically _IS_ a foot fault (“letter of the law”). unfortunately, it’s like being the one person who gets the speeding ticket when everyone around you is going 80 - you can argue the (un)“fairness” of it but you still did it…
magenta generation
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 03:41 pm: [report]
I think Serena knows she was in the wrong here; however, the more the press wants her to talk about it worse she comes off to me. I don’t care about her having a potty-mouth: she’s a #&@$% athlete for chrissakes!
I believe Serena HATES to lose and she let the line judge and the overall situation get the better of her. Call me weird but I thought it was funny when the line judge RAN to the official like she was afraid for her life after Serena cussed her out. Is that wrong of me?
Dave The Rave
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 04:36 pm: [report]
Serena throws and breaks a racket, then cusses out a ref. It makes the news for a day or so, we forget about it and life goes on. Of course, when she makes it back there, no doubt they will show it all over again.
Tiger Woods gets ticked and slams his club or cusses, it is big news and they will remind us of his tantrums.
Tiger is supposed to be a poster boy for being level-headed, while Serena can get away with her outbursts because that’s how she is seen as.
Both are in a competitive sport, stand to make money and are driven to win.
So, give it a rest, already!
Shriekback68
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 05:11 pm: [report]
When has Tiger been in a televised tournament “slamming his club and cussing”?? Link?
Dave The Rave
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 05:55 pm: [report]
Shriekback:
I sent you a private message. Watch any tourney he is in and you are almost certain to see at least one shot of his where he gets ticked off, slams a club or swears.
effing hickster
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 07:14 pm: [report]
@magenta: Serena is twice that line judge’s size. I’m pretty sure Serena COULD stuff that ball down her throat.
It was funny, though.
Nikki Dowling
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 11:05 pm: [report]
I used to play tennis competitively and my dad is a pro and I can tell you that very, VERY seldom do foot faults get called. When they do, it’s usually because the player has been doing it over and over again. To make a call like this on such an important point was not only bizarre but stupid. Even in the replays to one could tell if Serena did, in fact, foot fault. It was too close to call and the linesmen should have kept her mouth shut.
Another thing that no one picked up on is the effect this whole thing had on Clijsters. She was still standing in the back, waiting to play because that is how you end a match, by playing! When the ref awarded Kim an extra point, ending it, both players were devastated. For Clijsters that’s a really, really awful way to win a match which is why she is shaking her head and won’t get off the court at the end. This kind of thing puts a damper on what would have been a wonderful victory. Also, Serena and Kim are friends, and no one in tennis wants to see their opponent go down that way, especially not friends.
The refs should have had them redo it.