Williams fined record $82500 for US Open tirade
Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another "major offense" at any Grand Slam in the next two years.
Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock's ruling was released Monday, and he said Williams faces a "probationary period" at tennis' four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another "major offense" at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.
"But if she does not have another offense in the next two years, the suspension is lifted," Babcock said in a telephone interview from London.
He said Williams is handing over $82,500 right now, already nearly double the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense — about $48,000 Jeff Tarango was docked in the 1990s.
Williams lashed out at a lineswoman after a foot-fault call at the end of her semifinal loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September.
Williams earned $350,000 by reaching the semifinals, part of her more than $6.5 million in prize money in 2009, a single-season record for women's tennis. Her career prize money tops $28 million.
The American is an 11-time Grand Slam singles champion and ended the 2009 season at No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
Williams' profanity-laced, finger-pointing outburst drew a $10,000 fine from the U.S. Tennis Association in September — the maximum onsite penalty a tennis player can face. But because it happened at a Grand Slam tournament, Babcock was charged with investigating whether further punishment was merited.
He concluded that Williams violated the "major offense" rule for "aggravated behavior." The Grand Slam committee — with one representative from each of the sport's four major championships — approved his decision Saturday.
Babcock said Williams has been informed of the ruling. She has been in Barbados for an exhibition tournament, and her agent did not immediately reply to a request for comment Monday.
The USTA said it would comment later Monday.
Babcock said a "major offense" under Grand Slam rules is "any conduct that is determined to be the 'major offense' of 'aggravated behavior' or 'conduct detrimental to the game.'" There is no specific definition of what sort of actions constitute a "major offense."
He said the highest possible fine that Williams could face — $175,000, if she violates her Grand Slam probation — was chosen because it is the difference in winnings between reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals at the U.S. Open. The $10,000 Williams already was docked by the USTA will be counted toward that total; that's why she is paying half of $165,000 now.
During the Sept. 12 match at Flushing Meadows, the foot fault — a call rarely, if ever, made at that stage of such a significant match — resulted in a double-fault for Williams, moving Clijsters one point from victory.
Williams paused, retrieved a ball to serve again and then stopped. She stepped toward the official, screaming, cursing and shaking the ball at her. Williams was penalized a point for that display; because it happened to come on match point, it ended the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.
Source: The Associated Press
« Back to Sports News
Related News
-
Clijsters wins US Open in return from retirement Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:46 AM
NEW YORK — Someday Kim Clijsters will show her daughter the pictures — Jada pointing at herself on the giant video boards, scampering around the court and leaning over to touch the trophy.
-
Williams fined $10000; new investigation opened Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:46 AM
NEW YORK — Serena Williams' profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a U.S. Open linesperson drew a $10,000 fine Sunday, and more punishment could follow from a broader investigation into what the head of the tournament called her "threatening manner."
-
Nadal Loses in Semifinals Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:46 AM
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 13 -- One day after its marquee player, Serena Williams, was bounced from the U.S. Open after a profanity-laced tirade against a linesperson, the tournament lost the prospect of the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer men's final that so many fans wanted to see.
-
Nadal Ousted by del Potro Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:46 AM
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 13 -- One day after its marquee player, Serena Williams, was bounced from the U.S. Open after a tirade against a linesperson, the tournament lost the prospect of the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer final that so many fans wanted to see.
-
Soehn resigns as United's coach Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:46 AM
After missing the MLS playoffs two years in a row, D.C. United had begun assessing Coach Tom Soehn's work and weighing whether to offer him a new contract. The process was probably going to take another week, and given the club's shortcomings, there was a good chance that he would not be asked back.
