Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev has been banned by the World Tennis Association for a year and fined $25,000, and has also been made to give a public apology for racist and sexist remarks against the Williams sister.
Serena Williams responded to his "insensitive, sexist and racist" remarks in describing her and sister Venus as the "Williams brothers" on a late night TV chat show.
The world number one, gave her first public reaction Sunday to Tarpischev's comments as she spoke to reporters on the eve of the WTA Tour Finals in Singapore.
Williams, who won the U.S. Open title last month, added: "I thought they were in a way bullying.
"But the WTA and the USTA (U.S. Tennis Association) did a wonderful job of making sure that -- in this day of age, 2014 for someone with his power, it's really unacceptable to make such bullying remarks."
She opens against former world number one Ana Ivanovic today, hoping to shrug off injury and illness scares from her previous tournaments in China.
"I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it to this tournament," she admitted.
"But I'm here, and I'm really -- I feel better than I did obviously in China. I am just getting better every day hopefully."
Tarpischev is like to stepdown as chairman of the annual event in the Russian capital Moscow, and after his remarks about the Williams sisters, the WTA is demanding he stands down from that position.
This is goodnews; racism and sexism is under check.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Discuss