Serena says sorry as sisters win US Open doubles

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Putting the controversial end to her singles semi-final match two days earlier behind her, Serena Williams returned to the Arthur Ashe Stadium with sister Venus to seal the women’s doubles title with a 6-2 6-2 victory against top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber.

In front of a sparse but welcoming crowd, the sisters simply overpowered the doubles specialists, two breaks in each set taking them to the title at a canter.

Serena had lost Saturday’s match to eventual champion Kim Clijsters after receiving a point penalty on match point following an expletive-laden outburst at a line judge for calling a foot-fault.

And after admitting she was in the wrong after the match, the world No.2 went one step further and issued an apology via her blog and twitter account ahead of Monday’s delayed doubles final.

“I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call”

“I want to amend my press statement of yesterday,” she wrote on her website, “and want to make it clear as possible — I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA, and tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong.

“I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call, in any sport, in any manner,” the statement continued. “I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad. I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.”

The controversy overshadowed a comprehensive victory for the sisters, who add the US Open doubles title to this year’s Wimbledon and Australian Open triumphs and are now ranked as the second-best doubles pair in the world, behind their beaten opponents Black and Huber.

“They’re bigger and stronger than us,” Huber said. “They served bigger than us and you could see it all today.”

After the 90-minute match, on-court interviewer Patrick McEnroe asked if she would repeat her apology for the fans, but Serena declined.

“I think I said it all, I love my fans,” she said. “But most of all, I’m really excited to be here and play another match with Venus and thank you Venus for allowing us to win today. So it was great, very exciting. And again, congratulations to Cara and Liezel – they did a wonderful job.”

The fans started to boo as McEnroe pushed for an on-camera statement, at which point Venus Williams said, “I think the crowd is saying, ‘Patrick, let’s move on.’ ” Serena then laughed and clapped.

Williams was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and $500 for smashing her racket earlier in the match, but could face an additional fine or, more worryingly, suspension from next year’s US Open should the WTA and USTA take the matter further.

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Janelle Sep 15, 10:59 PM

Is Serena going to be fined or receive a reprimand or anything? If this had happened in basketball, you can be sure that player would have been told to leave and given a fine! If never asked to do anything other than that lame apology that was given, how else is she going to learn that she is really not the tennis princess?

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