After losing to competitor Naomi Osaka of Japan during the U.S. Open Tennis Championships this Saturday, professional tennis player Serena Williams suffered another stinging setback when the tournament’s referee office announced it would be fining her for various code violations.
The violations pertained to her widely panned behavior during the match, which included allegedly receiving instructions from her coach ($4,000), breaking her racket ($3,000) and calling the game’s umpire a “thief” ($10,000), according to the Associated Press.
Some of her behavior may be seen in the video below:
The first violation occurred after the game’s umpire caught the tennis champ’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, gesturing directions to her from the stand.
The coach later admitted to the media that he had indeed been trying to instruct Williams, saying, “Everybody does it — you all know it.”
That sounds like an excuse …
..
Watch Mouratoglou giving her directions below:
Moments after being called out by the umpire, Williams reportedly smashed her racket in anger after losing a round to Japan. Because of her previous warning, this time the umpire went ahead and deducted a full point from her for receiving coaching and losing her temper.
She then lashed out at the umpire, accusing him of being a “thief,” and thus earning another point deduction for “verbal abuse.” Because of the loss of so many points, she wound up losing the match to Osaka, after which she again complained to the media about alleged sexism.
While no doubt embarrassing and humiliating for her, especially in light of the backlash her behavior has inspired, Williams’ behavior will only cost her a total of $17,000. That’s over a million less than the $1.85 million in prize money she earned as the runner-up.
Just like with Williams’ original behavior, the announcement that fines would be imposed of her has triggered an avalanche of Twitter comments.
Some have been supportive:
This is bullshit!
1.There was no cheating going on between Serena Williams and her couch.
2. Men in tennis break their rackets all the time and they are never fined.
3. Men have said a lot worse to the umpire and are not fined! ?.
This is sexism! pic.twitter.com/kRInBbLVoA
— Celina Paige Oriti (@Celgreen87) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams being fined $17,000 for things male tennis players do regularly and are often never penalised for is the definition of sexism and she deserves that damn apology
— Raven-Stephanie Ellis (@Raven_Stephanie) September 9, 2018
You know full well that coaching happens all the time. That male tennis players break racquets, that they curse at umpires and they are dubbed as “outspoken.” Don’t try and pretend, that @serenawilliams was wrong. If a male had done it, he’d be warned not fined.
— Bianca (@bianca_corte) September 9, 2018
Fined for 3 code violations or fined for standing up for herself as a woman?
— Nicole Swiers (@Nicolejean) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams deserves an apology, not a fine. https://t.co/Xxmpm8zJkT
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 9, 2018
But many others have not:
Serena Williams fined $17,000 for violations during US Open final https://t.co/4jsnkq8dHA
GOOD. ATHLETES NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES. SHE WAS WRONG AND WOULD HAVE LOST EVEN WITHOUT THE ONE GAME PENALTY. SHE WAS NOT THE BETTER PLAYER YESTERDAY. SHE SPOILED THE WIN FOR OSAKA.— ❌PROUD ??❌QFD Banned (@Pepe1roni) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams fined $17,000 for violations during US Open final https://t.co/aoIcEjr1IB
Making America Great Again! Finally someone putting these punks in their spoiled bratty places?— Deplorable Brenda J (@bjscodywody1) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams fined $17k after US Open outburst. What a selfish, nasty, self centred spoilt brat @serenawilliams is. Nobody will remember the poor girl who won due to this needless abuse. https://t.co/yyiTAuXvq5 pic.twitter.com/0TWrxeVfC5
— Alan Kay (@AlanKay2) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams fined $17,000 for violations during US Open final https://t.co/9dUT2dsXhz
Finally got what it deserves— rick cicerelle (@theciscokid1111) September 9, 2018
HAHAHA!!! #SerenaWilliams fined!! I LOVE IT…she deserves it if not more…what a show of HORRIBLE sportsmanship and totally robbed Osaka of her moment of what may be her only grand slam championship! #USOpen
— Dan (@dc1574) September 9, 2018
Serena Williams fined $17,000 for violations during US Open final https://t.co/6mtKZMlGJ7
Good I’m glad that there’s some form of repercussion for her completely reprehensible behavior ???— Blitzkriegbrody (@blitzkriegbrody) September 9, 2018
Good! It should be more in my opinion! Serena Williams fined $17,000 for violations during US Open final https://t.co/7cmPat54am
— DemiLahana (@DemiLahana) September 9, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Biden mocks Wall Street ‘consternation’ over bank failures: ‘I think we’ve done a pretty damn good job’ - March 25, 2023
- ‘Stop calling us with this bulls**t’: Bragg staffer spits venom, hangs up on House Judiciary staffer - March 25, 2023
- Handyman reveals his creative – and effective – solution to squatters in his mom’s home - March 25, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.