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In a Bizarre Ending, Clijsters Beats Williams
By John Martin
The women’s semifinal at the United States Open between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters ended in bizarre fashion on Saturday night when Williams contested a foot fault and lost the match, 6-4, 7-5, because she scolded a lineswoman on match point.
The second-seeded Williams was down, 15-30, and needed to hold her serve to force a tie-breaker against Clijsters. But after the foot fault was called, she walked over to the lineswoman, who was sitting to her left, pointed at her and then held a tennis ball toward her as she berated her.
Brian Earley, the tournament manager, came out to discuss the incident with the chair umpire and the lineswoman. An argument ensued.
Amid the exchange, Williams could be heard saying to the lineswoman, “i didn’t say i would kill you. Are you serious?” It’s unclear exactly what she did say, but it was enough to earn her the code violation, and the match penalty.
Williams had already been given a warning, for breaking her racket after she lost the first set. This second code violation, by rule, cost her a point. With that penalty, the match ended.
Suddenly, Williams walked to the other side of the net and shook Clijsters’s hand. The match was over. The lineswoman soon retreated to the exit. Williams walked out under a storm of boos.
For Clijsters, the victory put her back in the final of the United States Open, which she won in 2005. She continues her remarkable return from a retirement two years ago after sustaining a string of injuries and later having a daughter.
In the final moments, Clijsters found herself as a bystander to the incident.
In an on-court interview after the match, she said she could not comment on it because she did not know what happened.
She next faces Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Yanina Wickmayer on the Armstrong court, 6-3, 6-3.
The ending capped what has been a frustrating two days of rain at the Open. The match between Clijsters and Williams, which had been delayed a day to begin with, got under way around 9:30 p.m. — it had been scheduled for 8 p.m. It was played at the same time as the other semifinal.
Clijsters Wins First Set, 6-4
Best points of the match so far: Beginning at about 15-15, Clijsters and Williams slugged it out, hitting corners and close to the lines. Then, not stepping back far enough and to the side, Williams netted an easy backhand to give Clijsters a glimmer of winning the first set. Another backhand error and Williams let out the fury of her disappointment, smashing her racket and walking to her seat. Clijsters had remained slightly steadier, but the match was developing into an intense battle.
In a Bizarre Ending, Clijsters Beats Williams
By John Martin
The women’s semifinal at the United States Open between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters ended in bizarre fashion on Saturday night when Williams contested a foot fault and lost the match, 6-4, 7-5, because she scolded a lineswoman on match point.
The second-seeded Williams was down, 15-30, and needed to hold her serve to force a tie-breaker against Clijsters. But after the foot fault was called, she walked over to the lineswoman, who was sitting to her left, pointed at her and then held a tennis ball toward her as she berated her.
Brian Earley, the tournament manager, came out to discuss the incident with the chair umpire and the lineswoman. An argument ensued.
Amid the exchange, Williams could be heard saying to the lineswoman, “i didn’t say i would kill you. Are you serious?” It’s unclear exactly what she did say, but it was enough to earn her the code violation, and the match penalty.
Williams had already been given a warning, for breaking her racket after she lost the first set. This second code violation, by rule, cost her a point. With that penalty, the match ended.
Suddenly, Williams walked to the other side of the net and shook Clijsters’s hand. The match was over. The lineswoman soon retreated to the exit. Williams walked out under a storm of boos.
For Clijsters, the victory put her back in the final of the United States Open, which she won in 2005. She continues her remarkable return from a retirement two years ago after sustaining a string of injuries and later having a daughter.
In the final moments, Clijsters found herself as a bystander to the incident.
In an on-court interview after the match, she said she could not comment on it because she did not know what happened.
She next faces Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Yanina Wickmayer on the Armstrong court, 6-3, 6-3.
The ending capped what has been a frustrating two days of rain at the Open. The match between Clijsters and Williams, which had been delayed a day to begin with, got under way around 9:30 p.m. — it had been scheduled for 8 p.m. It was played at the same time as the other semifinal.
Clijsters Wins First Set, 6-4
Best points of the match so far: Beginning at about 15-15, Clijsters and Williams slugged it out, hitting corners and close to the lines. Then, not stepping back far enough and to the side, Williams netted an easy backhand to give Clijsters a glimmer of winning the first set. Another backhand error and Williams let out the fury of her disappointment, smashing her racket and walking to her seat. Clijsters had remained slightly steadier, but the match was developing into an intense battle.
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up a call like that at such a high level of play, you deserve to be threatened.
