Former world number one Serena Williams (40) thinks she would have been severely punished if she had reacted like Alexander Zverev (24).
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World coach Alexander Zverev made headlines when he repeatedly hit the referee after losing a doubles match at the Mexican Open in Acapulco earlier this year. The German was fined 40,000 US dollars, equivalent to around 359,000 Norwegian kroner, for the outburst of rage. At the same time, the ATP tour was to investigate the matter further, and on Tuesday they came to a conclusion.
In a press release, they write that Zverev will receive a suspended sentence. If Zverev violates the regulations in a similar way before February 22 next year, the German will be banned from the ATP tour for eight weeks and will be fined 25,000 US dollars – just under 225,000 Norwegian kroner.
In an interview done before Zverev’s sentence became clear, former world number one Serena Williams was asked about the incident of CNN. The journalist then asked if there was any difference in how Williams thinks she would have been treated if she had done the same as Zverev.
– It is absolutely double standards. I probably would have been in jail if I did. Literally, I’m not kidding, Williams said in the CNN interview.
– When you see other things happening on the tour, do you think “what if I had done it”? Ultimately, I am who I am. I love who I am, and I love the impact I have had and have on people, says Williams.
–The tennis star also points out that she herself has been given a trial period. It was after the semifinals of the US Open in 2009. Williams then had a foot error that led to Kim Clijsters getting two match balls, and reaching out towards the line judge.
There she must be said “If I could I would have taken this ball and stuffed it down your throat.” The outburst led to Clijsters winning the match.
The line judge then told the tournament judge that Williams had said she was going to kill her.
– I did not say I was going to kill you. Are you kidding? I did not, Williams replied.
The incident caused Williams to have a trial period in the four Grand Slam tournaments for the next two seasons, and she risked being denied participation in the US Open and a fine of 175,000 US dollars if she had a similar outburst of rage.
It also stormed around Williams in the final of the US Open in 2018. Williams then received a point penalty and reached out to the referee.
– I’m not a cheater! How dare you insinuate that I cheated? You stole one point from me. You’re a thief, Williams said.
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