Serena hit with record fine for outburst
WORLD No1 Serena Williams has been hit with a record fine and a suspended three-year ban for her verbal tirade at a line judge during the US Open.
The American has been ordered by the International Tennis Federation to pay £53,000 and warned she will be barred from the Grand Slam for three years if she commits another major offence in the next 24 months.
The fine is higher than any other imposed for a Grand Slam incident, although only constitutes a quarter of the £212,000 prize money Williams earned for reaching the semi-finals.
Eleven-time Grand Slam winner Williams launched a furious four-letter outburst at a line judge who called a foot fault against her in the last-four defeat to Kim Clijsters in September.
The foot fault call came as she trailed 6-4, 6-5 and 15-30, handing Clijsters a match point. But so ferocious was Williams’ reaction that the umpire penalised her a point, thus awarding victory and a place in the final to the Belgian, the eventual winner. Williams, 28, initially showed little contrition but later issued an apology to the line judge, Clijsters and tennis officials.
The previous largest fine of £38,000, and a ban from two Grand Slams, was handed out to Jeff Tarango for his outburst at an umpire at Wimbledon in 1995.