Serena Williams' 'Swear to God' Rant at 2009 Open a Major Regret, Poor Witness of Faith
Serena Williams, four-time Olympic gold medal tennis player, recently opened up to The New York Times Magazine about not being the best representation for her Jehovah's Witnesses religion after being penalized for yelling and shaking her racket at an official during the 2009 U.S. Open.
In 2009, 30-year-old Williams lost the U.S. Open title to an unranked Kim Clijsters after a double foot-fault was called on the former in the semifinals of the Grand Slam tournament. Williams reacted by cursing at the line judge who made the call, reportedly saying, "I swear to God I'm [expletive] going to take this [expletive] ball and shove it down your [expletive] throat, you hear that? I swear to God," according to ESPN reports.
Although Williams told The New York Times Magazine that she believes the line judge made a bad call, she also said she may have shocked some familiar with her religious beliefs.
"What bothered me most was that I was representing my religion. I just felt like anyone who knew I was a Witness was stumbled and I really don't want to stumble anyone," Williams told the magazine. "They had to have a talk with me. And I knew it was coming."
Still, the tennis star explained why she was so upset about the incident three years ago.
"I was definitely stressed, and I was angry. I don't foot-fault. Like, I have in the past, but this woman should never make a call in the semifinals of a Grand Slam on a person who doesn't foot-fault," Williams said. "She was totally wrong. I'm sorry. I'm not sorry."
Williams said she attempted to warn the line judge about her calls in the 2009 match to no avail.
"I looked at her like -- I tried to warn her," Williams recalled about the incident. "And then she did it again. And I'm thinking, This is ridiculous."
However, Williams said she felt bad for reacting the way that she did.
"I just felt really bad, though, because it's like, that's not who I am," Williams told The New York Times Magazine.
