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Serena... Playing Sub-Par... Explodes at Referee... Loses to Clijsters

By Karen Anne Stone

Real Estate Agent with New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

September 12, 2009 05:31 PM

Today was not a good day for Serena Williams. Not a good day at all.

After waiting and waiting... through several long rain delays... her US Open Tennis Championship match with Kim Clijsters was finally set to start.

As the match wore on... Williams played below her usual game, and ended up losing the first set, 6-4. Serena was fuming... angry at herself for losing the first set. She was so upset, she slammed her racquet into the ground, bending the frame and earning a warning from the referee.

The second set was equally rough. Both players played their hearts out. And then it came. Serena was serving... behind 5-6... and needing a victory in the game to take it to a 6-6 tie... which would then result in a tie-break. The score was 15-30... with Williams behind. Serena faulted on her first serve, and on her second serve... the line judge called a foot fault... making it a double-fault. That made the score 15-40.

Serena went wild. She started yelling at the line judge, shaking her finger at her... and then motioning with the tennis ball in her hand. Some later reports said that Serena threatened to shove the ball down the line judges throat... although that has yet to be verified. Williams then went over and said something else to the line judge, who reported it to the chair umpire. That led to the chair umpire ruling unsportsmanlike conduct... awarding a point to Clijsters.

The problem was... with Serena behind in games 5-6... and down in points in the game that could tie it for her... 15-40... that when the umpire awarded Kim Clijsters a point because of Serena's actions... that pushed the 15-40 score to a win for Clijsters. That meant that instead of Williams tying the set at 6-6... the score was now 5-7... in Clijsters favor... which meant... Clisters had won the match.

It was a crazy ending to a wild second set. Both women played full tilt... and even Ms Clijsters was sad to see the match end that way.

But... the final result was that Kim Clijsters had won... beating Serena Williams by the score of 6-4, 7-5. Even with the final controversial ending, Ms Clijsters had clearly outplayed Ms Williams... and deserved the win. Clijsters will now play in the final against Caroline Wozniacki... hopefully if the rain will allow... on Sunday.

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Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Karen Anne,

I did not know you were a fan. Do you play tennis yourself?

Sep 12, 2009 05:36 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Jon: I used to play... years ago. Now... with weak ankles... I can't get around like I used to. But yes, I love playing tennis... and when I was a junior high school teacher... I was also the phys ed teacher. Teaching in the Catholic schools... there were some subjects you taught... just because you were the only one available. In the case of girls phys ed... that was yours truly... ME !

Sep 12, 2009 05:39 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi Karen Anne... This was certainly a match filled with excitement and drama!

Sep 12, 2009 05:51 PM

Brian Lee Burke

Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO

Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

Karen Anne - I love watching tennis and was a huge John McEnroe fan back in the day. I missed this one though as I was trying to entertain my toddler - he lost interest in about 2 minutes - sigh. :) ~Rita

Sep 12, 2009 05:56 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Steve: I really was an exciting match. And... I have NEVER seen Serena react like this. Honestly, she reminded me... exactly... of a young John McEnroe. She was that livid. Honestly, I think she scared the ref. Yikes.

Sep 12, 2009 06:35 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Rita: I love watching women's tennis, too. And seriously... tonight Serena WAS scary. She was furious, livid, and other similarly descriptive things, too. And... she really reminded me of a young John McEnroe... when he used to throw his "you cannot be serious" tantrums. I honestly believe that she scared the referee and the line judge. It was quite a sight to see.

Sep 12, 2009 06:37 PM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Karen Anne,

i knew that you were in Catholic School, and in my imagination (as there is nothing else to base it on for me) I thought about them as very formal, and not much into sports. So it was sort of unexpected, even though it is silly to think so primitively.

As for ankles, I am trying to start jogging, and boy, how difficult it is after not doing anything for years and years. Not sure that I will succeed, but I am still trying.

Sep 12, 2009 08:15 PM

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz

Las Vegas, NV

Karen - Like I mentioned before I love tennis, thanks for the update!

VB ;o)

Sep 13, 2009 12:56 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Jon: Just like most things... the atmosphere of any school depends so much on the administration and the teaching staff. For eight out of the nine years... the atmosphere was great. A very caring, very christian atmosphere (in the way it was originally... way back when... before the church took a very nasty right turn.)

Our school... and I do mean "our"... was a wonderful, nurturing place, and the kids who we taught there have done so many wonderful things after going forth into their own lives.

Sep 13, 2009 07:16 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Robert: I love tennis, too. And ahhh... when I see these young women bouncing all over the court... I remember my much earlier years fondly... and only wish that at that time I had realized what an important time in my life that would become.

Sep 13, 2009 07:17 AM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Hi Karen Ann,

This was a great matched filled with much excitment. It is a shame there had to be the drama to overshadow the excellent playing.

Sep 14, 2009 08:02 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Dorie: Honestly, I have not seen anyone get that crazy since John McEnroe and his antics many years ago. I really like Serena, but I think what she did... and the threats she made... need to be addressed. I think to be fined is not enough. She is scheduled to play in the finals of the women's doubles portion of the tournament, and I do not think, in view of what happened, that she would have that privledge. I think a suspension is in order. Any thoughts ?

Sep 14, 2009 09:36 AM

Jim Valentine

RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Gardnerville, NV

Sportsmanship is a major component of sports. It isn't combat, it is sports. She is a role model and her acting out must have proper consequences. $10,000 isn't enough - suspension is a good idea. That will send a message. No income, no exposure... we don't want to play with you.

Sep 14, 2009 03:20 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Jim: I must agree with you. Ten thousand dollars is peanuts. But a suspension says that you cannot do this. We have rules, play by them, or you don't get to play at all. In this case... I agree. Perhaps a one-year suspension from the US Open... which means she cannot play in the US Open in August/September of 2010. I don't think I am being too harsh. Yes, she is a role model, and she, just like the rest of those in the tournament... in the public eye... should ACT as role models.

Sep 14, 2009 05:06 PM

Michael Bergin

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - ABR - SRES - Alexandria, VA

Northern Virginia Real Estate

Karen -

You know Serena has a new book out and I wonder if the "ALL publicity is good publicity" rule will hold true.

Sep 16, 2009 12:38 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Michael: I know that nobody is perfect... but this time Serena just lost it... and went way, way over the edge. I do not see how THIS type of publicity can be called "good" publicity by anyone. Well, maybe Joe Wilson likes it... but he's just an old sourpuss... LOL.

Sep 16, 2009 02:32 PM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

I would suggest to Jon (comment #7) that he not take up jogging at his age. As more and more research is published, we're learning that running and jogging just isn't right for the ankles and knees. Go swimming instead, or biking. If you don't have a good place to go biking, buy a recumbent bike and get your exercise in while Playing in the Rain. I've done them all. Now I'm in my daily walks with the Canon Rebel XSi mode.

Sep 23, 2009 08:57 PM