Serena Williams ended up losing the US Open Semi-Final match do an emotional, some would say over the top, outburst which ultimately cost her the match.
Here are some questions that I asked myself, and I’d love to get your take on them too.
1. Do you think the line judge made the right call (no, foot fault, no meltdown)?
In my book, that is the wrong call at the end of any match, let alone in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. This isn’t because a foot fault is a ridiculous call at that this stage of a match (even though it is 
). It’s because I don’t believe it was even a foot fault at all.
The TV replays showed that Serena’s foot was definitely behind the line when she served. Many would even say that it was close but not close enough to make the call. What do you think? What did you see?
2. Do you think it warranted a penalty?
I love Serena and her game, but I think she was way out of line here. She lost her composure. Though it be something she’s very good at 90% of the time, this was not one of those times. And I think the penalty was justified. Even our buddy John McEnroe wasn’t very pleased and thought she went off the deep end a little.
I mean, it all boils down to this. You not only have to protect the players, but you also have to protect the official tournament staff. That includes ball boys, line’s men, the chair umpire, and ofcourse the fans.
I’m not saying that Serena really would have done any harm to the lines woman. I don’t think that would have been the case in the slightest bit, but you have to prepare for the worst. I think though it’s amazingly unfortunate but the right call.
3. Should their be a fine or further action taken? Should she lose sponsorships? Do you think it will cost her some of her fan base?
I really don’t know. I think when she reviews this and watches it in a film session, that and losing a big chance at a grand slam title will be all the punishment she needs. It’s really going to hit her hard, even harded than now. I really don’t think it’s sunk in yet.
But yes, I think the sponsors will take a long hard look at it, because at the end of the day, it is a business unfortunately. And this is not specific to Serena. I think they’d do that for any athlete. And then make a desicion based on how much they think it has hurt their brand, if at all.
Me being a big tennis fan and avid player, I know everyone has these moments. The difference is they’re not televised on the big stage where everyone can see them. We’ve all taken something out on someone else, justified or not.
So I don’t condone what she said at all, but I do understand it, and sympathize with her. With all the adrenaline pumping and with the stakes so high, it’s much easier for the nerves to be ripped to shreds than say if someone is late picking you up from school or gave you the wrong order at a restaurant.
So, I think her other fans will understand that as well. Do you agree?
Tell me your thoughts…
Brian Hall, Your Tennis Mind Coach
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I think Serena will regret this one for a looooong time. I think it could really affect her in the wallet.
I agree with you Brian. Everyone is appalled at her reaction, but this is the biggest stage in the sport. Who wouldn’t be on edge? I think she’ll learn from it and be a much better player mentally later on…
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I think Serena who be fined and suspended from the game from threatening a tennis official like that. How dare her??!?!?
Serena will pull through it! Go Serena!!!
Would peeps being blowing this way out of proportion if it were Clijsters or Sharapova or would it swept under the rug??? hmmmmm
Yea, everyone is jumping down her throat worse than janet jacker and the wardrobe malfunction! Geeeze..
I think her fans will understand. I do. It’s a lot to take on.
Excuses Excuses… she should hand write a letter apologizing for that childish and inexcusable behavior. That was AWEFUL!
Serena has always been classy! One hiccup won’t tarnish her hole career. It’s not like she did a George W and put us in an horrendous position and lost worldwide respect for our country …wink
It all depends upon the fil heard someone say she did not footfault but the fil reappeared and it did appear to be a footfault but then a close up film should be able to say whether the call was justified or not. But the action of serena was defintely out of order. We need to tell all youngsters the rules early few lessons are given on rules it seems to me, As far as the last play of the game determing the final outcome the rule must be enforced that would not be good for the lines peoiple..overruled if not a true footfault but this would be dtermined by the actual pictut=re and they have some and the outcome would be based on what really happened. Just my thinking behavior of this sort must never be permitted or young players will think they can get by with foul language.
Do not think Venus would have handled it this way. Best to all Bill guilfoil
In my personal opinion, a point-penalty was necessary because of Serena’s actions. The point-penalty just happened to fall on match point.
In all rights, the call was way to close for her to call. I would of been just as mad if it happened to me. I think Serena lost her concentration and had a ratherless a meltdown. Thank you for listening. Aaron G.
This is more than a hiccup. She is a professional at the peak of her career. She took away from the magic moment of Ms. Clijsters and brought shame on herself and family. I can’t see her coming back from this. I will never think of her the same again.
I think that she is a professional athlete just like any other pro athlete and has to responsible for her actions. Lucky for the world of tennis, the linesperson was not of caucasian persuasion or the incident would have been blown up as a racial issue. Sad to say, but true.
Facts are facts, and if she foot-faulted… she did it, and if she cussed and threw a little fit… she did it. That’s it.
What do you think of my website?www.combat-survival-skills.com
GOD Bless You and Yours,
Glenn Tate
I think Serena is a great player and I do believe that the foot fault call was wrong or at least too close to call from what I could tell. But even if it was the semi-final of the US Open, she could have kept her temper in check. Its one thing to be upset at a call you think is wrong, but she really took it a bit too far. The point penalty was definitely warranted, unfortunately for her it occurred on Clijsters match point. She’s also been fined and may be banned from future tournaments, but whatever the case hopefully she learns from this and doesn’t make the same mistakes.
We all have our moments of frustration when there is a bad call.
I think Serena will be alright and I like her.
Yes, she should be penalize, also i am not sure if it is really a foot- fault from the replay. I thought she hit the ball before her feet were in the court, i guess you can say more about this.
I think Serena is very “chic”, very arrogant! She thinks she is the owner of tennis! I stand for Safina, though I hate the Safina! Thank God she lost! I hate Serena!
You saw how she celebrates to the sister in the game of doubles? What is that? What were those compliments pat hand? Greetings fools!..Pat fools!!!!!!!!
Well…as far as I’ve heard, the call wasn’t correct, but even so, Serena shouldn’t have acted like that. It’s lack of politeness and good manners, not to mention respect for the line umpire. Lack of professionalism…As about the penalty, I think it was quite a good one, to teach her next time to keep it all cool. Anyway Kim was close to the match, she had MP, right? So…
I didn’t see the game to view exactly what happened, but everyone has an off day here and there. So much expectations put on athletes to be perfect. We are all only human.
The Williams sisters have brought so much into the game. Truth be told, they took the sport to a higher level-they raised the bar.
What really is a foot fault?. When they were called on Venus earlier in the slam, I wasn’t sure what they were looking at because many, many other foot faults should have been called on other players. I think the official was wrong to call it. That being said, did Serena really say “I’ll kill you”? There should be enough close witnesses to confirm. One expletive or angry reaction probably would have been overlooked but walking back toward the official 2 to 3 times was definitly threatening. They had no other recourse but to penalize her and would have done so no matter who the player was. Serena could have come back from being match points down – she has before. Also, the official sat in her seat for a few seconds befor running to the chair official. Does she wear headphones, did someone tell her to get up and go? That whole scenario was odd. Bad call, bad reaction, bad way to lose a grand slam.
She did’nt kill dogs, she didn’t shoot a gun in a crowded bar, and she did’nt drive drunk. She will probably come back and win the next 10 Slams in a row, foot faults or not!
That call was not a good call to make that close to the match point. I didn’t see the fault and for the official to accuse someone of saying something they didn’t without reviewing is nuts. Don’t they have replay. GO SERENA. They are all jealous and just want the game to go back to the GOOD OLD TIMES. SAD….
Yes, I heard about it but I don’t watch that semifinal match. So, I cannot comment anything about Serena’s foot fault.. But she shouldn’t act like she did and they should’ve given her a penalty. Hey, don’t forget to watch USO Final.. I really hope that FEDERER will make it 6th in a row..♥
What an unfortunate turn of events……WOW, can they really not replay the foot fault and have it over turned? Is that not an option a player has??? Sure, give Serena the book for the language……. but Holy Cow that was the worst call, worst moment for the call, and worst reaction for the call ever!!! I’m just thrilled that Serena had the decency to meet Kim on the other side of the court and shake her hand. I feel absolutely terrible that Kim got the win like that (Personally I’d feel totally robbed), but in the end….Kim won/ Serena lost the match and her mind;) Hope she is able to redeem herself in the eyes of her fans and her family.
I really couldn’t tell if it was a foot fault, and I would have been reluctant to make such a call at the end of a match, however, rules are rules. Quite frankly, I think Serena went ballistic, and like Mary Carrillo, I believe she should have defaulted the doubles final as well as future tournaments. It was completely inappropriate for her to threaten the lines person, and the “F” bombs were unnecessary.
People try to depict Serena as classy. I don’t think so. Unlike her sister Venus, she always crys when she looses (remember the French Open, I believe in 2007 or so when she lost to Henin, she claimed she had a sprained wrist).
There is no excuse for any pro tennis player to say
what Serena said to a lines person. To argue is one thing
but to threaten the way she did over one call really shows
her real character. Her sister, Venus, on the other hand,
is a great lady, as she has consistantly shown time and time
again. Venus is a wonderful sport and a super role model.
Serena has shown the world who she is and what she is all about.
Her sponsors will most likely not want to be asociated with
this bad sport and bully.
I really don’t understand why there is even a debate about this. When you decide to play a game or a sport you have specific rules set beforehand, you know them and since you play or compete you actually make a conscious decision to obide by them. Rules do not change because of a special or significant moment. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the US Open semifinal or a match between 10 year olds. In the rulebook there is no section stating that a rule shouldn’t apply if the moment in the match is critical.
Whether the official was wrong or not is not important. When you walk to a court you have to deal with the human factor and nowadays also the HawkEye system. Maybe she was wrong maybe not. Who can say with conviction whether a wrong call gave Federer for example a Grand Slam or deprived him from one. In some matches one call can make the difference between winner and loser. Anyway Rules are Rules.
Totally agree, but she got away with a slap on the wrist even when we are all debating about it. Not fair to other players imo.