Comments on: Serena vs. The US Open: Who Was Right?

By: dekomusic

dekomusic — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:51:29 +0000

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.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:13:52 +0000

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.

By: Larry

Larry — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:14:34 +0000

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.

By: ADad

ADad — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:35:04 +0000

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).

By: Timothe Romani

Timothe Romani — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:01:25 +0000

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.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:04:58 +0000

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..♥

By: Finezz

Finezz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:55:30 +0000

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….

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:03:39 +0000

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!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:33:41 +0000

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.

By: Ruxandra

Ruxandra — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:46:42 +0000

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…