Serena Williams Slapped With $82K Fine

Another tirade could earn tennis star a suspension
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 30, 2009 10:09 AM CST
Serena Williams Slapped With $82K Fine
Serena Williams speaks to reporters after losing her semifinals match to Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York.   (Darron Cummings)

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her US Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another "major offense" at any Grand Slam in the next two years. In a ruling released today, Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock said Williams faces a "probationary period" at tennis' four major championships in 2010 and 2011. Another big offense would jack the fine up $175,000.

He said Williams is handing over $82,500 right now, already nearly double the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense—Jeff Tarango was docked about $48,000 in the 1990s. Williams' profanity-laced, finger-pointing outburst drew a $10,000 fine from the US Tennis Association in September, the maximum on-site penalty a tennis player can face. But because it happened at a Grand Slam tournament, Babcock was charged with investigating whether further punishment was merited. (More Serena Williams stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X