Back in 2009, the US Open experienced arguably its most dramatic incident in the Open Era.
And it involved the sport’s greatest star – Serena Williams.
Then-world-no.2 Williams was in another US Open semi-final and, to reach the final, had Kim Clijsters in her way.
Clijsters, who came out of retirement and was handed a wildcard for the event, had already surprised many by beating the likes Kutuzova, Bartoli, Flipkens, Venus Williams and Li Na en route to the semis.
Although the surprises didn’t stop there, as the Belgian then took the first set 6-4 against Williams.
Then in the second set, Williams was 5-6, 15-30 down on her service and on the brink of elimination.
After her first serve went out, Williams returned to her position, and the drama began when a line judge shouted – “Fault!”
Serena Williams exploded at a line judge
Lineswoman Shino Tsurubuchi was adamant that Williams committed a foot fault and, therefore, a double-fault.
Williams looked utterly stunned and in disbelief, as she had her hands on her hip and looked towards the baseline, as Clijsters now had multiple match points.
But that wasn’t it.
Astounded by the verdict, Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the official.
She waved her racket in the lineswoman’s direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she reportedly threatened to ‘shove it down’ her throat.
Williams lost to Clijsters in the endGETTY Williams eventually apologised for her behaviourGETTYTscurubuchi went to umpire Louise Engzell and presumably informed her of what Williams had just said.
Spectators stood up and booed, with the entire incident unfolding into a disaster.
Donna Kelso, WTA supervisor of the US Open, Williams, the lineswoman and head umpire Brian Earley were all in conversation.
Williams then suddenly said, in an outburst that could be clearly heard: “I never said that I was going to kill you! Are you serious?”
In the end, Williams, having already received a warning earlier in the match for smashing a racket, was handed an automatic point penalty for a second violation.
It meant Clijsters was handed the 6-4, 7-5 victory and a place in the US Open final.
The fallout from this incident was monumental and would dominate tennis headlines for months to come.
This wouldn’t be the first time Williams would have a run-in with an official either.
In the 2018 US Open final against Naomi Osaka, Williams had a row with an umpire that left her accusing him of sexism.
What was Serena Williams’ punishment?
Williams was initially handed a $10,500 fine, the biggest given to a female player at the time since records began in 1990.
She also apologized for her behaviour on the day, saying she ‘handled the situation poorly’.
Then two months later, in November, Williams was fined $175,000 and put on probation for two years for her tirade by the Grand Slam Committee.
“On 9 November 2009, the Grand Slam Committee administrator determined Serena Williams had committed the grand slam major offence of aggravated behaviour for her misconduct at the 2009 U.S. Open,” the committee said in a statement.
Williams’ behaviour saw several officials coming onto the courtGETTYThe committee is responsible for organizing the four Grand Slams, the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.
It was a punishment Williams would happily take at the time, as a possible ban from January’s Australian Open was an option.
Williams’ probation meant that if she committed another major offence at a Grand Slam, she would have been suspended from the U.S. Open in 2010, 2011 or 2012.
Serena Williams apologised to the lineswoman
After winning the US Open doubles crown with her sister, Venus, Williams issued an apology.
“To this lineswoman, I would give her a hug and tell her that I’m just… Let’s just put it behind us and look ahead,” she declared.
And while Clijsters didn’t get the attention she wanted after her semi-final, she wouldn’t have to wait long as her Cinderella run to the final ended with her claiming the US Open title.
That championship meant she became the first ever female wildcard winner of a Grand Slam in singles.
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