Controversial Exit for Serena Williams

I can't believe a foot fault was called on Serena Williams in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open. In the second set of the semi-finals match between Belgian comeback player Kim Clijsters and 11 time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, (with Clijsters up one set) a lines judge called a foot fault on Williams with her down 15-30 and 6-5 in the set. How unbelievable!!!!!!!!! Williams supposedly made threatening comments to the judge who was obviously trying to get back at her for the earlier strike against Serena in the match. It totally ruined the win for Clijsters whose comeback story has inspired mothers all over the world who have children that they can have a family and be competitive at their professions.

Considering only Serena and the lines judge truly know what was said it would have been a better respect of the game had the judge waited until the match was over to report Williams if what the judge claimed was true; then Serena would have been fined later. This U.S. Open will now forever be marked by this ugly incident. Clearly the foot fault was an act of revenge for any comments Serena made earlier. Even the play by play announcer who I believe was a McEnroe brother said that there was no foot fault. I am very disappointed watching this semi-final considering it was delayed a day because of rain.

This now repeats a trend with bad calls against the Williams sisters which have been made in the past. You will now get people saying the call was made because of race which will diminish what Clijsters has accomplished. Watching Mary Jo Fernandez interview Clijsters was uncomfortable because it was clear she thought the match should have been completed with Clijsters up a set and 40-15 with a double match point which would have inevitably been won by Kim. This story will continue after the U.S. Open is over and it is not what the sport needs.

With the rise of 17 year old American sensation Melanine Oudin and the return of Kim Clijsters, women's tennis was moving in a better direction. It was moving far from all the controversy which came with the underlying negative racial undertones of the Williams' sisters success. Serena Williams is undoubtedly the best women's player of our present time and whatever happened in the moment she deserved to finish the match. She's a competitor and of course she was upset by the call (which was likely a bad call.) But for respect of the game and for the respect of Clijsters who worked her butt off to beat Serena, the lines judge should have waited until the match was over to report Williams.