Williams fined record $82,500 for US Open tirade
Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her tirade at a U.S. Open line judge 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 to the Grand Slam committee, 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.
“I am thankful that we now have closure on the incident and we can all move forward,” Williams said in a statement released Monday by her publicist. “I am back in training in preparation for next season and I continue to be grateful for all of the support from my fans and the tennis community.”
She earned $350,000 by reaching the U.S. Open singles 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, including USTA president Lucy Garvin—approved his decision Saturday.
“As a voting member of the Grand Slam committee, the USTA agrees with the additional penalties levied against Serena Williams for her on-court behavior during her semifinal match at the 2009 U.S. Open,” the USTA said in a statement released to The AP. “The USTA looks forward to Ms. Williams competing in the 2010 US Open.”
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. It happened to come on match point, ending the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.
NEW YORK - (FILE) Serena Williams (L) argues with Brian Early (R) and Donna Kelso (C) after disqualified for a default during the 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. According to reports, November 30, 2009 Williams has been handed a record fine and given a two-year probabtion following her outburst during her Semifinal match against Kim Clijsters.
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‘테니스 여제’ 서리나, 막말도 벌금도 ‘최고’ |
여자 테니스 세계랭킹 1위인 서리나 윌리엄스(미국)가 올해 9월 US오픈 테니스 여자단식 준결승에서 선심에게 폭언을 퍼부은 일로 8만2500달러(한화 9500만원)라는 기록적인 액수의 벌금을 물게 됐다고 미국의 주요 언론들이 30일 보도했다.
서리나는 또 향후 2년간 US오픈과 윔블던, 프랑스오픈, 호주오픈 등 4대 메이저대회인 그랜드슬램 경기에서 또 다른 심각한 위반행위를 되풀이할 경우 US오픈 대회에 출전이 금지된다
그랜드슬램 대회의 운영을 책임진 빌 밥콕 위원장은 30일 AP통신과의 인터뷰에서 “서리나에 대해 2010년과 2011년에 그랜드슬램 토너먼트 경기를 ‘보호관찰’ 기간으로 설정해 이 경기에서 심각한 위반행위를 되풀이할 경우 벌금을 17만5000달러로 높이고 US오픈 출전을 금지시키기로 했다”고 밝혔다. 밥콕 위원장은 그러나 향후 2년간 불미스러운 일을 되풀이하지 않을 경우 ‘보호관찰’이 해제될 것“이라고 설명했다.
서리나에게 부과된 벌금 8만2500달러는 지금까지 그랜드슬램 테니스 대회에서부과된 벌금 가운데 최고액이다. 지금까지 벌금 최고액은 1995년 윔블던대회에서 심판판정에 불만을 품고 심판을 비난한 뒤 퇴장한 제프 타랑고(미국)에게 부과된 4만8천달러로, 서리나의 벌금은 타랑고의 거의 2배에 달하는 것이다.
서리나는 9월12일 미 뉴욕에서 벌어진 US오픈 여자단식 준결승에서 풋 폴트(서브를 넣다가 엔드라인을 밟는 행위) 지적을 받자 라켓을 휘두르며 선심에게 다가가 공을 쥐고 흔들며 ”맹세컨대 이 공을 당신 목구멍에 넣어버리겠다“고 폭언을 퍼부었다.
언니 비너스와 함께 세계 여자 테니스계를 평정하고 있는 서리나는 지금까지 11번의 그랜드슬램 단식 챔피언에 올랐으며 2009시즌을 세계 랭킹 1위로 마감했다.
2009.12.01
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us오픈 테니스대회 ---서리나 =='콱, 목구멍에 공을…' 서리나의 살벌한 욕설
폿 폴트 지적받자 폭언… 벌금 1200만원에 추가징계 위기
'그놈의 불 같은 성격 때문에….'
세계랭킹 2위의 여자
테니스 스타 서리나 윌리엄스가 경기 중 폭언 때문에 구설에 올랐다.
윌리엄스는 13일 미국 뉴욕 빌리진 킹 내셔널 테니스너에서 벌어진 US오픈 테니스대회 여자
단식 준결승에서 상대인 킴 클리스터스와 2세트 경기 중 5-6으로 뒤진 자신의 서브게임에서 풋 폴트(서브를 넣다가 엔드라인을 밟는 행위)를 지적받았다.
풋 폴트
판정에 화가 난 윌리엄스는 라켓을 휘두르며 선심에게 다가가더니 공을 쥐고 흔들면서 "이 공을 당신 목구멍에 넣어버리겠다"고 폭언을 퍼부은 것.
2009.09.14 출처:동우테니스