[loikrso]

I think the whole thing is beyond ridiculous.

I hope she's inspired to win every Slam next year.

[larentont]

If she's not suspended....what does this one mean?

It means if she behaves badly over the next two years then she will be suspended from a US Open in one of the three years listed.

[loikrso]

If she's not suspended....what does this one mean?

It means that the ITF is trying to control her.

Serena Williams is not an animal who belongs on a leash, short or long. She's a human being who lost her mind and had a reprehensible and inexcusable outburst.

She's been fined the maximum. She apologized. She's never done it before; it's not likely she'll ever do it again.

She's proven throughout her career that she learns from her mistakes, big and small.

Adults would move along.

The ITF's infantile behavior here is even more reprehensible and inexcusable than Serena's because the ITF actually has power over her and they are abusing it to try to control her.

If this is how the ITF governs, it should be put out of its misery post haste.

[b7RKli4l]

It means that the ITF is trying to control her.

Serena Williams is not an animal who belongs on a leash, short or long. She's a human being who lost her mind and had a reprehensible and inexcusable outburst.

She's been fined the maximum. She apologized. She's never done it before; it's not likely she'll ever do it again.

She's proven throughout her career that she learns from her mistakes, big and small.

Adults would move along.

The ITF's infantile behavior here is even more reprehensible and inexcusable than Serena's because the ITF actually has power over her and they are abusing it to try to control her.

If this is how the ITF governs, it should be put out of its misery post haste.

What he said.

[ancexttew]

You're probably right about the Tootage, but in all honesty I've wondered where those penalties go.

The fines go to the tennis development program of the particular slam in this case - the USTA.

[enactolaelant]

It means if she behaves badly over the next two years then she will be suspended from a US Open in one of the three years listed.

So then - she DOES get to play in 2010? Assuming innocence of future charges?

[attackDoold]

So then - she DOES get to play in 2010? Assuming innocence of future charges?

Oh yes. No suspension at all.

[attackDoold]

The article about this on tennis.com explained it well.

The full fine of 175K is the difference between the USO QF and SF. She has to pay half, and the other half she won't pay as long as she doesn't flip out for a few years.
...
I think the "give us the spare change in your couch and promise you'll behave" decision was inevitable.

[smifatv]

Eh, whatever. Glad she's not suspended.

[SmuffNuSMaxqh]

To clarify my earlier comments, my preference was no fine or further action. However, given the pressure to do something and the low likelihood that governing boards of anything will act courageously, this was a face saving exercise.

In the grand scheme of things, I think the result is relatively harmless from the point of view of actual effect.

I don't think there's malicious intent on the part of the ITF (opinion). I again think they're trying to save face. This will have little effect on Serena.

I expect she'll win the Australian Open.