London Olympic Games 2012

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Serena Williams at Glamour Magazine 2009 Women of the Year Awards

Professional Tennis player and honoree Serena Williams attends the Glamour Magazine 2009 Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Serena Williams at Glamour Magazine 2009 Women of the Year AwardsSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Monday, November 2, 2009

Serena Venus Williams hold their trophies after the WTA Tour


Serena Williams (R) of the US and her sister Venus Williams hold their trophies after the WTA Tour Championships final tennis match in Doha.
Serena Venus Williams hold their trophies after the WTA TourSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams ingles final against Venus Williams US WTA Tennis Championships in Doha Qatar

Serena Williams of the US celebrates winning the singles final against Venus Williams of the United States at the WTA Tennis Championships, in Doha, Qatar.
Serena Williams, right, of the United States holds the trophy after winning the singles final against Venus Williams, left, of the United States at the WTA Tennis Championships, in Doha, Qatar
Serena Williams ingles final against Venus Williams US WTA Tennis Championships in Doha QatarSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Serena Williams at a press conference WTA Tennis Championships in Doha Qatar

Serena Williams of the United States is seen in front of a poster of herself at a press conference ahead of the WTA Tennis Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Serena Williams at a press conference WTA Tennis Championships in Doha QatarSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Friday, October 9, 2009

Serena Williams reacts after returning a ball to Russia Nadia Petrova

USA's Serena Williams reacts after returning a ball to Russia's Nadia Petrova during their match in the third round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China
Serena Williams reacts after returning a ball to Russia Nadia PetrovaSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

US Serena Williams celebrates upon defeating Russia Ekaterina Makarova

US Serena Williams celebrates upon defeating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova during second round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China.
US Serena Williams celebrates upon defeating Russia Ekaterina MakarovaSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Serena Williams returns shot against Kaia China Open Tennis tournament in Beijing China

Serena Williams of U.S. returns a shot against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the China Open Tennis tournament in Beijing, China
Serena Williams returns shot against Kaia China Open Tennis tournament in Beijing ChinaSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Serena Williams at a cocktail party celebrating FFAWN in New York

Singer Mary J. Blige, left, the host of a cocktail party celebrating the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), poses with tennis player Serena Williams and singer Alicia Keys at the Gucci store in New York.
Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player LeBron James and tennis player Serena Williams arrive  the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) in New York.
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Serena Williams at a cocktail party celebrating FFAWN in New YorkSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Serena Williams poses with Kelly Rowland and Star Jones party in honor Williams biography On the Line in New York

Tennis player Serena Williams poses for photos with Kelly Rowland, left, and Star Jones, right, prior to a party in honor of Williams' biography, "On the Line in New York..
Serena Williams poses with Kelly Rowland and Star Jones party in honor Williams biography On the Line in New YorkSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena and sister Venus Williams womens doubles final US Open Tennis Championship in New York

Serena Williams of the US (L) and sister Venus Williams of the US (R) hold the championship trophy after defeating Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber of the US in the women's doubles final at the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York
Serena and sister Venus Williams womens doubles final US Open Tennis Championship in New YorkSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Monday, September 14, 2009

Serena Williams of the United States speaks to reporters after losing

Serena Williams, of the United States, speaks to reporters after losing her semifinals match to Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.
Serena Williams of the United States speaks to reporters after losingSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams Semi Finals Against Kim Clijsters photos

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Serena Williams (L) argues with a line judge during her Women's Singles Semifinal match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day thirteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Clijsters defeated Williams 6-4, 7-5. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Serena Williams
Serena Williams Semi Finals Against Kim Clijsters photosSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams Calls It Quits With Disgraceful Eruption

Serena Williams
NEW YORK -- Serena Williams is a quitter. Yes, we saw the temper tantrum, saw her drop the f-bombs and tell the lines judge that she could take "this (bleeping) ball'' and stuff "it down your (bleeping) throat."

That's humiliating enough. But it's all a diversion from Williams' cowardice. She knew the rules, knew that she was going to be bounced from the match, getting a point-penalty on match point. She was absolutely going to lose anyway. So she chose that form of embarrassment over the other form that she was already suffering.

Williams has shot off her mouth for months about being the best player in the world, and here was Kim Clijsters, back from 2 1/2 years of maternity leave, out-toughing a woman who takes pride in her toughness, coming from Compton. Williams was being out-toughed in the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
Clijsters, not having to play the last point, won 6-4, 7-5 to advance to Sunday's finals.

A bully being beaten. That's what Williams was. And the problem was not the rain, not a bad call (it was a good call; I was sitting low and right along the line), not an over-reaction from her tirade.

Don't let Serena change the subject, which is this:

She is a fraud.

She was getting her butt handed to her, and this was her way of sitting on the stool, saying "No Mas," and refusing to come out for the last round.

We saw Roger Clemens do the same thing years ago. Remember?

Serena Williams"What did I say?" Williams said. "You didn't hear? Oh."

Don't worry, Serena. It's going to come out. A kid cannot pick his nose on the school playground anymore without pictures of it showing up on YouTube.

"No, I didn't threaten," she said. "I didn't -- I don't remember anymore, to be honest. I was in the moment."

Oh please. Williams knows she made threats. And when tournament officials took the court and met with the chair umpire and the line judge, Williams walked up and said, "I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious? Are you serious?"

The line judge nodded and said, "Yes."

Williams later said that she had misunderstood the claim, that the judge had not said that at all, and so Williams' response was about nothing.

Not true.

But here's even the bigger lie:

"Well you know, I'm just clearly not happy," Williams said. "But it was ... I don't know. Like, I mean, obviously I wanted to fight."

She was talking about fighting for the victory, not literally fighting.

"I always fight when I'm down and keep going. I planned on hitting a couple of aces, but I guess it didn't work out."

She had no intention of hitting aces. She was too afraid to try.

Two points from being tied in the game, four points from tying the set and taking it to the tiebreaker.

No, she wasn't going to come back, she knew it. And she couldn't take it.

Clijsters beat her into submission.

People are going to think something was missing from this win for Clijsters. But the truth is, it was one of the most impressive victories ever. It was so dominant that one of the greatest players of all time, couldn't bring herself to finish.

Listen, this tantrum was a disgrace. Poor sportsmanship and all. But we've seen Jimmy Connors call a line judge an "abortion," before. We've heard athletes drop f-bombs before. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite this bad, but tennis players are notorious for this garbage.

"All the people that, you know, kind of yell at lines people," she said. "I think it kind of comes sometimes. Players, athletes get frustrated. I don't know how many times I've seen that happen."

Yes, and this time it is only a diversion. Clijsters, traveling with her new baby, was too tough physically, too tough mentally for Serena Williams.

After 2 1/2 years away from the game, she has just walked back in the door to beat everyone.

Serena has bullied her way into humiliating Dinara Safina, who is ranked No. 1. Safina isn't the best player, but it turns out that Williams isn't, either.


Clijsters is the best player in the world. And how humiliating for Williams to have made such a fuss over her own greatness, and then have this happen to her.

She was down 6-4, 6-5, 15-40 when she chose to erupt.
And did you see the line judge? After Williams' second eruption, the line judge left her spot to say something to the chair umpire. When she came back, Williams was ready to charge over again, yelling more. The line judge, a tiny woman, didn't even sit down before turning and running back in fear to the chair umpire for cover.

Remember back at the French Open, when Williams accused another player of cheating her? She said that the woman had better not come to the net again.

It was Williams threatening that she would drill her with a shot.

"You guys heard that?" Williams said later. "Well, you know I am from Compton. So you know..."

I know that Serena is a quitter. On Saturday, U.S. Open officials released a statement saying absolutely nothing. It explained that Williams had smashed her racquet after the first set, drawing a warning, and when she "yelled something at the line umpire" she was assessed a point penalty.

In the interview room later, Williams' agent reminded her to smile and a few minutes later bullied the moderator into stopping the interviews. Williams had put on a happy face, pretended to be calm.

She said she had probably foot-faulted, but was upset because officials had only started calling it on her in the past two weeks.

No, Serena, the chair umpires and officials didn't throw you out of the match. You did it yourself.

On purpose.
Venus Williams Photos 1 2 3 4
Serena Williams Calls It Quits With Disgraceful EruptionSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams handed fine for outburst

Williams handed fine for outburst

US OPEN
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 31 August - 14 September
BBC coverage: Live text commentaries on the website from 1600 BST each day, regular updates on 5 live, full commentary on 5 live sports extra in week two, both finals on 5 live. Live on Sky Sports and Eurosport.


Serena Williams (right) talks to US Open referee Brian Earley and Grand Slam supervisor Donna Kelso
Officials talk to Serena Williams (right) following her outburst

Serena Williams has been fined $10,000 (£6,000) by US Open organisers for her tirade towards a line judge during her semi-final defeat by Kim Clijsters.

The American lost her cool after being foot-faulted at the end of the contest.

Officials, who also fined Williams $500 for racquet abuse in the same match, said further penalties could be imposed once an investigation had taken place.

WTA Tour chief Stacey Allaster called the 28-year-old's conduct both "inappropriate and unprofessional".

Allaster's statement continued: "No matter what the circumstances, no player should be allowed to engage in such behaviour without suffering consequences.

As a role model, it's important for a leader like Serena to step forward and recognise her behaviour last night was unacceptable

WTA Tour chief Stacey Allaster

"Serena is a great player who has done so much for our sport and I am certain she will continue to be a role model to millions of young women who want to play the game and excel as Serena has done.

"As a role model, it's important for a leader like Serena to step forward and recognise her behaviour last night was unacceptable."

Williams also released a statement, admitting she had let her emotions get the better of her.

"Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job," her statement read.

"Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that, while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.

"I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience."

The foot-fault call had looked a questionable one with the aid of television replays and it handed Clijsters match point.

Williams remonstrates with the line judge
Williams remonstrates with the line judge after being foot-faulted

As the Belgian wild card waited to play the next point, Williams, who had already been handed a code violation for racquet abuse, decided to vent her frustration.

She unleashed a tirade towards the line judge, briefly walked away and then returned for another blast at the line judge.

Chair umpire Louise Engzell then intervened, asking the line judge what had been said, while tournament referee Brian Earley was also summoned.

The officials eventually ordered a point penalty, the next level of punishment after an initial code violation, which gave the match to Clijsters.

The $10,000 fine is the maximum on-site penalty a Grand Slam tennis tournament can issue for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Grand Slam committee administrator has also opened an investigation to determine whether Williams' behaviour should be considered a "major offence".

Williams had been unrepentant about the incident in her post-match press conference, claiming to not remember what she had said to the line judge and saying her actions were not unprecedented.

Serena explains outburst

She was later seen entering referee Earley's office before leaving the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.

According to the Grand Slam Rule Book, unsportsmanlike conduct when referred to the Grand Slam Committee can be treated as "aggravated behaviour", which "is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a Grand Slam, or is singularly egregious."

The rule book states that such a violation "shall subject a player to a fine of up to $250,000 or the amount of prize money won at the tournament, whichever is greater".

It also states that a player can be permanently suspended from play in all Grand Slams and/or the Tennis Masters Cup if found guilty.

Williams, who was beaten 6-4 7-5 by Clijsters, earned $350,000 in prize money for reaching the last four.

The 11-times major winner is also scheduled to play in the women's doubles final on Monday with her sister Venus.

Serena Williams handed fine for outburstSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

Venus Williams sister Serena during their doubles match at the US Open tennis tournament in New York

Venus Williams, left, talks with her sister Serena Williams during their doubles match against Yung-Jan Chan and Katarina Srebotnik during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York
Venus (L) and Serena Williams in action during their doubles match against Yung-Jan Chan of Chinese Taipei and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia on the sixth day of the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship.
Venus Williams sister Serena during their doubles match at the US Open tennis tournament in New YorkSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams of the United States reacts after winning

Serena Williams of the United States reacts after winning a point against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain during the fifth day of the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York

Serena Williams of the United States reacts after winningSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Serena Williams celebrates during her 6 1 6 1 win against Melinda Czink

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates during her 6-1, 6-1 win against Melinda Czink of Hungary during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York
Serena Williams celebrates during her 6 1 6 1 win against Melinda CzinkSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Serena Williams in action against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez

United states Serena Williams in action against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain during their 3rd round US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in  New York.

Serena Williams in action against Maria Jose Martinez SanchezSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Serena Williams US Open Tennis Championship In New York

Serena Williams of the US hits a forehand return to Alexa Glatch of the US during the first day of the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

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