Williams Sisters Each Fined $4,000 by Wimbledon Officials

MotherMarjorie

MotherMarjorie

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Williams sisters fined $4,000 each at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—Venus and Serena Williams have been fined $4,000 each at Wimbledon for skipping a news conference after their loss in the doubles quarterfinals.

Serena Williams said Thursday she is “shocked to hear” about the penalty, adding she and her sister rarely speak to the media after Grand Slam doubles matches other than finals.

The top-seeded Americans lost to Russians Vera Zvonareva and Elena Vesnina in three sets Wednesday.

Serena Williams will play Zvonareva in the singles final Saturday.


http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=ap-wimbledon-williamssisters-fine
 
MotherMarjorie said:
Williams sisters fined $4,000 each at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—Venus and Serena Williams have been fined $4,000 each at Wimbledon for skipping a news conference after their loss in the doubles quarterfinals.

Serena Williams said Thursday she is “shocked to hear” about the penalty, adding she and her sister rarely speak to the media after Grand Slam doubles matches other than finals.

The top-seeded Americans lost to Russians Vera Zvonareva and Elena Vesnina in three sets Wednesday.

Serena Williams will play Zvonareva in the singles final Saturday.


http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=ap-wimbledon-williamssisters-fine
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Wonders if this "fine" will affect Serena's probation status???? Poor Serena, she just can't stay out of trouble. Who knew she was such a rebel?
 
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Had they won, they would have no problem showing up for the interview. They are bitter after a tough loss. And they shouldn't be shock for getting fine either. Safin got fined before for not showing up for an interview after the match. They know the rule.

Shock my ****
 
Thats weird they had all ready done like 2 press conferences that day after each of their singles matches...they need to do ANOTHER ONE?
 
Players skipping interviews happens regularly. They get fined.
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you don't think every player in the draw gives a press conference, do you?

I having trouble believing Dulko/Pennetta or King/Shvedova actually had a press conference after winning their doubles QF's. And according to the interviews on the wimbledon site, they didn't. According to that list, only big names or players who played on showcourts had any press conferences throughout the entire event, which is understandable. let's be honest on who the media & fans want to hear from, its generally not anyone in the doubles event.

The only reason the Williams sisters have given press conferences in the past is because the press wanted to speak to them. I understand why Serena would be confused by the fine, I'm sure she played many doubles matches in her career where there was no press conference. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first time a doubles team has ever been fined.
Considering it is DOUBLES, the idea of mandatory press conferences is a bit silly, esp since apparently many of the other no name teams entered in the other events are not required to attend one. there probably have been doubles grand slam finals where there was no press conference at all afterwards.
I see Lindstedt/Tecau & Melzer/Petzchner are in the mens doubles final. Wonder how many reporters will show up to that press conference, if there is one. they play after the ladies final, right?
 
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egn said:
Thats weird they had all ready done like 2 press conferences that day after each of their singles matches...they need to do ANOTHER ONE?
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I’m sorry but from the Wimbledon Website, the sisters gave their interview on Tuesday after their single match. But they play double on Wednesday and didn’t show up ANY press conference.
 
They are obliged to go to post match interviews? Really? Well, if Federer turned up to his yesterday then i'm pretty sure they have to.
 
TMF said:
I’m sorry but from the Wimbledon Website, the sisters gave their interview on Tuesday after their single match. But they play double on Wednesday and didn’t show up ANY press conference.
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You are correct my mistake I thought they played same day.
 
THese fines are ridiculous, I mean Nadal got one for $2000!!! and now the Williams $4000 each? come on, this guys/girls make $250k just by reaching the semis of a tourtnament!
 
TMF said:
Had they won, they would have no problem showing up for the interview. They are bitter after a tough loss. And they shouldn't be shock for getting fine either. Safin got fined before for not showing up for an interview after the match. They know the rule.

Shock my ****
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I bet Venus was the bitter, aloof one that didn't want to go to the presser. Two straight losses at Wimbledon might have been too much for old girl to bear.
 
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Well, Mother Marjorie thinks this is probably how Venus and Serena's press conference would have gone, had they shown up:

Interviewer: Tough loss today. Do you feel you were prepared enough coming into today's quarterfinals?

Serena: Like, we always come prepared. While we like, never mention our injuries, you know, Venus would agree we won't talk about that, like.

Venus: We were very prepared today and I think they played great, but we didn't. I don't think they beat us as much as we lost the match.

Interviewer: Are you disappointed that the possibility of a calendar year grand slam has been dashed?

Venus: We've played great tennis until today. The ball just wouldn't go in. Its as if, we just let ourselves lose.

Serena: The girls played good, and we like could have and generally do play better. I would say we played like at about 70%, even though we give 100% every match, you know.

Interviewer: Venus, did your quarterfinal loss have any effect on your play today?

Venus: Not really. I never felt like I was beaten in that match, as much I lost the match. We practiced the same we always do. I kept the the unforced errors down this match but not enough to win.

Interviewer: What are your plans after this fortnight?

Venus: Well, my self-help book is about to be released which will help a lot of people learn what I have about winning and losing and apply it to their lives. I also am releasing a new fashion line, so I will be busy.

Serena: I still have two singles matches to think about, you know. Like, its not my tournament to win, because the other girls have played good to get to this point. I have to win these matches, so I don't lose. I'm still promoting my book from last fall, so if any of my fans out there still want to buy it, its been reduced by 25% on Barnes and Nobles, like.

Interviewer: Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
 
MotherMarjorie said:
Well, Mother Marjorie thinks this is probably how Venus and Serena's press conference would have gone, had they shown up:

Interviewer: Tough loss today. Do you feel you were prepared enough coming into today's quarterfinals?

Serena: Like, we always come prepared. While we like, never mention our injuries, you know, Venus would agree we won't talk about that, like.

Venus: We were very prepared today and I think they played great, but we didn't. I don't think they beat us as much as we lost the match.

Interviewer: Are you disappointed that the possibility of a calendar year grand slam has been dashed?

Venus: We've played great tennis until today. The ball just wouldn't go in. Its as if, we just let ourselves lose.

Serena: The girls played good, and we like could have and generally do play better. I would say we played like at about 70%, even though we give 100% every match, you know.

Interviewer: Venus, did your quarterfinal loss have any effect on your play today?

Venus: Not really. I never felt like I was beaten in that match, as much I lost the match. We practiced the same we always do. I kept the the unforced errors down this match but not enough to win.

Interviewer: What are your plans after this fortnight?

Venus: Well, my self-help book is about to be released which will help a lot of people learn what I have about winning and losing and apply it to their lives. I also am releasing a new fashion line, so I will be busy.

Serena: I still have two singles matches to think about, you know. Like, its not my tournament to win, because the other girls have played good to get to this point. I have to win these matches, so I don't lose. I'm still promoting my book from last fall, so if any of my fans out there still want to buy it, its been reduced by 25% on Barnes and Nobles, like.

Interviewer: Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
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Perfecto! 10 Char
 
Serena should have been banned from the singles final. I bet she would get so mad, she'd shove a tennis ball down the official's throat.
 
bluetrain4 said:
Players skipping interviews happens regularly. They get fined. Why is this such BIG news??
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Yeah although I don't see why they should be fined for not speaking to the media. I mean if you don't want to talk about your loss or victory, shouldn't it be up to the player? That's my viewpoint anyway.
 
Did Henin do an interview after her loss?? No. Why was she not fined?

Hmm...also lets do some quotes from the Clijsters mistake.

"Didn't come up with my best on the biggest points.."
"Gave her too many easy mistakes."
"I never really umm..yea made her work all that much"

Does this make Clijsters evil too?? I guess Henin should also be fined as well for not showing up. The fine was ridiculous case end and point.

What's bugging me about all this is all this harping on Venus cause of her interview this year. However to remind people that Venus is not an evil person lets remember when last year for those who forget when she destroyed Safina 6-1,6-0. Venus defended Safina instead and the comments made about her being a weak no.1. Lets give the girl a bit of respect.
 
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These press conferences are in any case a joke. A fine for not attending is silly.

Could someone try to educate me on the purpose of these silly useless meaningless purposeless conferences.

Give these chaps a standard questionnaire and let them fill if out and return in within 24 or 48 hours.
 
Sentinel said:
why does everyone here hate the sistas so much ?
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Here is one small example:

"Serena Williams says the only way she would not play the Fed Cup final is if she’s “in a wheelchair.” Then she bails and is off tweeting and doing promo stops for her new book in London? Thanks for nothing. This after the US Open debacle where it took her three opportunities to apologize?"


Tennis has given them everything, and they take it for granted and give back the bare minimum.
 
No player gets special treatment. The press conference is part of the GS event. If you join the event, you must comply or else!
 
I agree with what Moose said. Mandatory press conference for high profile doubles teams during the tournament is pretty stupid. As he said the less well known doubles teams don't have to bother with that. Possibly the teams that win the men's and women's doubles titles should have to give press conferences after the final, but that's it.
 
Sentinel said:
These press conferences are in any case a joke. A fine for not attending is silly.

Could someone try to educate me on the purpose of these silly useless meaningless purposeless conferences.

Give these chaps a standard questionnaire and let them fill if out and return in within 24 or 48 hours.
Click to expand...
They are indeed a joke, an unpleasant dance that the journalists dislike almost as much as the players. The questions are mostly BS, and so are the answers.

I think you're right: the journalists don't need live player quotes (especially the sort of quotes they usually get) to write a story. It's just that a player quote is part of the formula for the product that the journalists are producing and the media outlets are selling. This giant engine makes money for everyone involved (especially the players!), so the tours have an interest in forcing player participation.

Unfortunately, the value of the product is greater if the players can be irritated into saying something controversial, and some journalists will try it. I don't buy Serena's shock, but given the sort of questions the Williamses could have expected from the Wimby press after their first loss of the year, I'd guess that $4000 was the easiest spending decision they've made this fortnight. I'd have done the same.
 
The bigger joke are the 'thing' Venus/Serena wear atop their head during a match.

Do they draw inspiration from 5 lbs of fake hair?
 
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