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Serena Williams Disqualified from Semi Finals!

Posted by tennisplanet on September 13, 2009

This entry was posted on September 13, 2009 at 10:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

21 Responses to “Serena Williams Disqualified from Semi Finals!”

  1. evie said

    September 13, 2009 at 11:27 am

    She wasn’t disqualified. She got a penalty point for a second unsportsmanship-like conduct act (first was smashing the racquet), and it happened on MP. Big difference.

    Reply

  2. Gracie said

    September 13, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    I won’t pretend to defend Serena’s actions or anything she said. IMO, she should be fined and owes an apology. But I won’t sit here and crucify her either, because it’s been a long weekend, and things just aren’t black and white when it comes to emotions running high. I only wish a linesperson would be 110% certain of a foot-fault call at a point so crucial in a match, and none of the angles shown prove one way or another. I also wish the chair umpire had immediately called BOTH Serena and the linesperson to the side the instant she saw Serena start to walk over there. She might have tried to work it out there, or demand Serena set the good example (after bad) of apologizing on the spot, or losing the point and the match.

    For me, this was much more about screwing over the fans (who spent big bucks on those tickets) – AGAIN – after they waited around for an entire day (or even 2) just to see a little tennis. No one can safely say the match was already over. I’ve seen Serena come back from being that far down before, and even if she was going to lose, at least let Kim have the WIN. Kim and her fans deserved to have the opportunity to celebrate. And Serena’s fans deserved the chance to see last year’s winner defend the title. People want to see a match to its bona fide finish so they can cheer the winner, whoever it is. This isn’t tantric tennis.

    As a fan who has paid oodles of money for tickets to Majors, I think it’s safe to say that more of the booing was against that chair umpire for depriving them of a finish, than it was against Serena.

    Reply

    • Ricke said

      September 13, 2009 at 1:44 pm

      Touche. It was a sad ending to a good match all around.

      Reply

    • Rick said

      September 13, 2009 at 9:00 pm

      LOL tantric tennis is great!

      Reply

    • chieko said

      September 13, 2009 at 9:22 pm

      Good point Gracie san. BTW why can they have the same challenge system for footfault??? It really boggles my mind for at this day and age with such advance technology, this should be done and cleared electronically. I really think they should implement the system right away especially they already have the hawkeye system going.
      BTW please enjoy the match later Gracid san. I am in cloud 9 but may not be able to watch but will catch up with the comments later.

      Reply

  3. Tiltil said

    September 13, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    Serena really showed lack of sportsmanship here denying Kim the exact satisfaction of winning the match! But she would have won the match anyway!

    And now she is the 2009 us open champion! It’s huge! Hats off to this supermom! What a comeback!

    Reply

    • Bonnie said

      September 14, 2009 at 3:50 am

      Agree. I’m so glad Kim won and she’s a welcome (back) addition to the women’s tour. I hope to see her doing well for many more years.

      Have to say though, I was very disappointed in Serena’s behavior. Not classy at all.

      Reply

  4. GG said

    September 13, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    Serena was in shock all through that match because of how well Kim was playing. I really don’t believe Serena expected Kim to be that consistent and stay w/her through 2 sets. Serena was already mad at herself and the situation and she just exploded like a ticking time bomb when a foot fault was called against her. I’m not sure it should have ever been called because there is not way that woman could be absolutely sure of her call. After seeing the replay from many different angles it sure doesn’t look like she foot faulted but, as Gracie said, you can’t tell for sure. I’m sure Serena is extremely sorry she lost it but its too late. I’ll bet it won’t ever happen again and Serena will be a little more humble now because of this experience. IMHO she needed to come down a little because she is far to boastful. We’ll see how her career plays out in the future.

    In the meantime, I couldn’t be happier for Kim Clijsters. I have always liked her demeanor on court and her game and now she is back and she is the USO Champion!!!! GO KIM!!!!! Good luck to you for the rest of your career!!

    Reply

  5. Serran said

    September 14, 2009 at 12:18 am

    I just don’t get it. Why on earth are the players, me or women alike, so upset when they are called upon a foot fault? The rules are freaking clear on that. You do NOT step on the line, if you do, it’s a foot fault. Simple as that, there should be no more controversy than when your ball is wide. if you know you can’t step on the line, just don’t do it, it’s not so difficult for god’s sake. It’s mind boggling how many players believe they can get away with it, when all it takes is a simple half step backwards, and you’re safe to go.

    And I for one am glad to see an umpire and a tournament that won’t let a player bully the linesmen with theatricals and stuff. We’ve seen so many players get away with that (Roddick being a brilliant example) that the situation was getting embarrasing to watch any more. The linesmen are just doing their job, so just keep your calm and do yours, you’re supposed to be a proffessional.

    Reply

  6. Bonnie said

    September 14, 2009 at 3:54 am

    I just have a quick question for anyone who knows the answer, do the guys get a warning when they smash a racket? And how much do they have to smash the racket before they get the warning or penalty point? I’m just unclear about this, because they were saying Serena got a warning, or a penalty point, when she smashed her racket, and then the last penelty point for unsportsmanlike conduct, which gave Kim the match. I’ve seen many guys smash the racket, including that time with Federer, and i didn’t know about this warning or point penalty thing until now. Any insight would be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • chardit said

      September 14, 2009 at 4:09 am

      Breaking your racquet will incur a warning irrespective of whether you are male or female (or should!)

      I think it was the combination of swearing, brandishing the racquet at the lineswoman, and then coming back for a second tirade that incurred the point penalty. It was a great shame to see such an exciting match finish that way. I think it’s important to remember that Serena has been both extremely competitive and gracious in both winning and losing throughout her career. I had hoped that she might regain her dignity by apologising to the lineswoman and maybe that will come.

      Neither too much nor too little should be made of this incident.

      And go Kim!

      Reply

    • Jenny said

      September 14, 2009 at 4:29 am

      As far as I’ve observed, I haven’t read the rules, the guys aren’t usually warned for just throwing a racquet or bouncing it, most do so at one time or another. However, warnings are issued if they really whack it down and it ends up either dead or useless, whether they are actually fined, together with the warning, I don’t know, I would imagine they are. I think it may possibly be down to the umpire’s discretion as to warning and this is where we hit a grey area and the usual umpire’s inconsistency. [a bit like obvious time delays]. I’m pretty sure Roger wasn’t warned for that incident[?] I’m sure if it happens again after said warning, the guys do lose a point. Just my own thoughts, Bonnie.

      Reply

      • Bonnie said

        September 14, 2009 at 10:03 am

        Well thanks Jenny! I love tennis (as a spectator of course), but I just don’t understand some of the rules sometimes. I think what you said makes sense, especially about the umpire’s discretion.

  7. mircea said

    September 14, 2009 at 4:16 am

    First of all, why isn’t there Eyehawk for foot-faults? That shows how flawed the review system is.
    Secondly, I’m sure worse has been said on a tennis court. So Serena did nothing exceptional.
    That she got what she deserved: penalty point is fair. McEnroe got defaulted in Australia.

    What needs to be examined is the chip on Serena’s shoulder.

    Serena is bad for the sport because she is too good and too talented. She has used the sport to put down her opponents and the sport itself. I root against her because she is not a sportsperson, but an athlete with an attitude, and a bad one at that. Just like I was saddened to listen to Michael Jordan trash talk his way through his induction speech, I have been saddened by the way Serena Williams has treated a sport that has been good to her. She has been nothing but disrespectful, using it to showcase her atrocious fashion line and her painfully embarrasing acting. It’s unfortunate that tennis has had to be subjected to her constant half bully, half-contrite diva act. Since she likes to beat people up and kill them, it’s time to send her to the UFC. I’m sure her fans would enjoy seeing her there. I, for one, hope she never wins another big tournament. Where is Venus when you need her.

    Reply

  8. mircea said

    September 14, 2009 at 4:27 am

    I also think Sharapova should be included with Serena as bad for the sport. Her diva act got tiring too. And she also yelled at umpires, referees. She likes acting? Send her to Hollywood. Too bad, she’d be nothing more than a tall extra. Jankovic? Same mold. Clijsters is a breath of fresh air into a rotten bag: women’s tennis. I hope all these new faces will make us forget the ugliness of the US Open and the last couple of years.

    Reply

  9. Jenny said

    September 14, 2009 at 5:48 am

    We all know Serena’s behaviour was grim to say the least, and that’s the last word I’m going to say on the subject. Right now, and on that evening, I was feeling more for the fans in the stadium, in particular Serena’s followers, and her family, she is after all a great player and her contribution to the game has been enormous. I have two firecrackers in my little group of guys so I know what it feels like from a fan’s perspective when they go off on one big time in front of a worldwide audience. Imagine how I felt sitting all cozy here in England, drinking my Pimms, watching matches at Queens last year, and at the same time hearing that Fena had, in the heat of the moment, whacked a ball into the crowd on a non televised court when Karlovic was sending him bonkers. [even Rafa was trying hard to hold it together in the next round when he had to meet him]. Fena was quite rightly defaulted, because his actions were dangerous, one of his ferocious balls could have done some real damage. I also know underneath it all, he’s a really nice guy who would have been mortified had he hurt someone. Ferru can lose it, racquet smashes and a self berating monologue of such intensity [never to officials], it could make the most sensitive shudder. Another genuine sweetie with humility. Unsporting? – absolutely, but also very, very human in the heat of the moment. We all like to hope we can act in a sporting, reasonable fashion, react to a tense situation by not overreacting, but given certain circumstances, not everyone is made the same.

    Reply

  10. k7 said

    September 14, 2009 at 7:08 am

    What irritates me is some saying it was a questionable call. There is no good camera angle to say it. Besides, how did Serena know at that time that it was a bad call? She is looking up at the ball. Her foul mouth cost her this time.

    Roddick is very different. He does not threaten the linesperson. Serena wanted to push the ball down the linesperson’s throat. That too infront of eveyone, including kids. In any other professional sport, she will be tossed (no two warnings and point penalty and drama).

    Reply

  11. Manon said

    September 14, 2009 at 11:46 am

    Overzealous call.
    Overzealous behavior.
    Undignified, cringe-worthy presser.
    …and a forced apology much too late….all just leaves a really bad taste in this fan’s mouth.

    Extremely disappointed would be an understatement.

    ‘Nuff said on the matter, no?

    Reply

  12. chris said

    September 14, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Also, why does Johnny Mac say after she foot faults “Oh man, you cant call that!!?”….If her foot was on the line, it is indeed a foot fault buddy! dont see why they should give players a break, thats is what the linesman is there for, and she was just doing her job! Serena is nothing more than a diva who thinks who she is! Now that Kim kicked her ass all over the court, she was brought for a reality check! GO KIM!!! I will and always will hate the Williams sisters!

    Reply

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