the foot fault.  Serena used multiple curse words and aggressively approached the lineswoman as she pointed her racket in the direction of the lineswoman during her expletive-laced tirade.  Serena just lost it… pure and simple.  

Some players foot fault, others never foot fault.  It’s a completely inexcusable offense because a player can simply stand a couple inches back from the baseline.  Since the first match at the 2009 U.S. Open, when Venus Williams was called for a foot fault at a critical moment very late in the tense first set of her first round match, there have seemed to be an unusually high number of foot faults called.  Is that because linespeople frequently overlook foot faults or because for some reason players have foot faulted more the past couple weeks?  If a player is very surprised to be called for a foot fault, he/she usually will instantly ask “which foot?” caused the foot fault as Venus Williams did on the first night of the tournament.  

The reaction…

Given how tense and tight Serena had acted and played throughout the semifinal encounter with Clijsters, it’s not totally surprising that she became angry at the foot fault being called at such a critical moment in the match, i.e. 4-6, 5-6 15-30 second serve (the foot fault call resulted in a double fault for Serena giving Clijsters 15-40 and match point).  Serena had angrily smashed her racket after playing poorly in her service game to lose the first set 6-4 which earned her the first code violation for racket abuse.  However, it is somewhat surprising, as well as an indication of exactly how out of control Serena was in that moment late in the second set, that Serena screamed so angrily at the lineswoman (foot fault calls are never overturned) as she was now facing match point.  Clearly, Clijsters was playing very well and deserved to win the match, but Serena has recovered from the brink of defeat many other times so it’s surprising that she let her emotions overcome her to the point where she never gave herself a chance.  Players learn early on in their careers that there can be frustrating line calls, even during important moments in matches, and they need to find a way to accept them and believe that they will “even out in the end.”  

The result…

After the lineswoman was asked by the chair umpire what Serena had yelled at her and the tournament referee came onto the court, Serena was given a second code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct which resulted in a point penalty thereby handing the match to Clijsters without another point being played.  It was a disturbing and sad denouement for such a highly-anticipated and well-played match on one of tennis’ grandest stages inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.  Clijsters was denied her joyous moment of victory for both beating Serena, as well as reaching the 2009 U.S. Open Women’s Final.  Tennis fans remember in a very, very different situation when Amelie Mauresmo won the 2006 Australian Open title after Justine Henin sat down in mid match retiring with an upset stomach and Mauresmo was denied her victory moment.  Nonetheless, the match, which Clijsters, in her post-match Twitter, called “the best match of my career” will be remembered for Serena’s temper tantrum rather than Clijsters’ sparkling play under the pressure of playing Serena in a Grand Slam semifinal in only her third tournament back on Tour.

The future…

•    Serena Williams needs to control her own “intensity”
•    Players shouldn’t smash rackets and verbally abuse linespeople and umpires... it is out of control
•    Not all racket abuse and verbal abuse are penalized (appropriately)
•    Perhaps there needs to be electronic review of foot faults
•    Follow the rules or else…
•    Kim Clijsters is back… and a threat to win Grand Slams (again)…
•    Serena Williams owes the lineswoman and the tennis world an apology

In a stadium named after one of the classiest competitors in sport, Arthur Ashe, the sport of tennis deserved better last night from a player, Serena Williams, who considers herself the best player in the world.

Posted by TC at 01:36 PM || Comments (1)