
Do you remember Serena Williams outburst back in September? During the U.S. Open, Williams was called for a foot fault and then cursed out the line judge, which ultimately caused Williams to lose the semi-final match to Kim Clijsters. Well, Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock won't forget and gave his judgment on Serena's punishment on Monday.
Babcock announced that Williams will be fined $82,000 for her tirade and put on a two-year probationary period. If Serena has another outburst or major offense at any Grand Slam Tournament, she will be barred from the next U.S. Open and fined $175,000.
Babcock told the Associated Press in a telephone interview from London, "...if she does not have another offense in the next two years, the suspension [will be] lifted."
The fine is the highest any professional tennis player has ever received. The previous highest fine was $48,000 against Jeff Tarango in the 1990s. Williams was already fined $10,000 from the U.S. Tennis Association shortly after the incident, which is the highest the organization could fine a player on site.
There are a total of four Grand Slam tournaments that Williams must be on her best behavior for over the next two years: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. The Australian Open is the next tournament on the schedule and occurs January 18–31, 2010. Williams has yet to respond to the judgment.
Even though the fines may seem steep, it's not like Serena can't afford the fine. For making the U.S. Open semi-finals, she earned a nice $350,000. Still, is the punishment too harsh? Serena has thrown tantrums before: screaming, yelling, throwing and breaking rackets and she's lost points and has been fined for those. She has never threatened an official, though.
If an athlete in the NBA or NFL were to threaten an official, they could be suspended for an entire season and lose out on millions in salary. So in comparison, the punishment is light, especially since she isn't suspended from any upcoming tournaments. We think Serena will be on her best behavior from here on out.
Comments: (149)
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By: divine on 11/30/2009 9:22PM
I think she may have been fine ,But this fine is over the top.But some whites have never been fair
So we blacks have expected it to be what it is .
There no surprises to us ,We know how they get down ,Serena just let her quards down on this one
When blacks talk up they have to be getto,When whites act up they are acting natural,What a bunch
of "S" ,We all know whites are alway acting out from the times when they are small kids ,Go to the malls and the parents refuse to buy a toy and you will see a movie ,Where they start screaming ,falling on the floors ,kicking even hitting the mothers and they want to talk about blacks ,they have spoil brats .
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By: elrumba on 11/30/2009 9:59PM
Thats because these white parents were raised by parents of the same. White Trash..!!!.....
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By: fishingking on 9/06/2010 12:30AM
elrumba at least those white kids know who their daddy is you welfare monkey
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By: Uche on 12/01/2009 10:25PM
This fine is utter BS. I'm not exonerating Serena in any way, but SERIOUSLY? You have/had people like Marat Safin, Johnny Mac, Ille Nastase, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, even Roger Federer, who swear/swore at linesmen and NOTHING is said or done. And who gets fined - Serena? Now I'm not one to pull "the card" often, but this is blatant racism and possible sexism. Heck, go on YouTube if you don't believe me. Look up these male tennis players and see for yourself. Pitiful.
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By: joep on 11/30/2009 10:21PM
WELL, what else did you expect. Its a sport of class, not a ring side sport.
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By: lynne on 11/30/2009 9:44PM
can't take the ghetto out of her, the clothes, the walk and the nasty talk... not surprised at ALL
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By: fishingking on 9/06/2010 12:27AM
the smell
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By: Robert THOMAS on 11/30/2009 9:31PM
I'm sorry that Serena didn't shove the ball up the line judge's rectum. And she should do the same for the cretin named Babcock. Or, I'll volunteer to do it for her.
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By: elrumba on 11/30/2009 10:17PM
You also must be a Ghetto N@gger; N@gger.!!!
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By: elrumba on 12/02/2009 1:44PM
Robert THOMAS on 11/30/2009 9:31PMNeutral I'm sorry that Serena didn't shove the ball up the line judge's rectum. And she should do the same for the cretin named Babcock. Or, I'll volunteer to do it for her.______>>>>>Just remember Rev.Thomas your Black @ss will never be accepted into the white world no matter how hard you try.___ So you's better get your Black @ss back on the porch, porch Monkey. Your Black and always will be no white man is taking a shine too you. Once a N@gger always a N@ga.!!!
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