I am sorry to say it but whils 82 thousand increasingly devalued $ US dollar will not hurt Serena Williams financially, this harsh fine speaks to to unspoken undercurren hostility toward the Williams sisters. This hostility springs from the fact that tennis is very white and upper middle class sport in the United States and Europe. The William sisters' strength- their "physicality" threatens the ideal image of the "soft" femininity associated with white female tennis players. I am more than certain that if white male or female player made this outburst, the player would not have been punished so excessively. The more the United States, and its European junior sister, celebrate the election of President Obama as the "post-racial" President of the West, the more we can see the workings of most vicious practice of colourblind racist practices. Just look at the faces of those who are hurting the most at these times of economic crisis in terms of unemployed, the homeless and those who lost their homes in the United States- disproportionably, they are black and or other members of minority groups. Yes, all Ms Williams should be punished for her misconduct but the politics of the colour colour line and colourblind subtle racism have plagued the tennis world’s dealing within the phenomenon of the Williams sisters! The reason is the Williams sisters embodied blackness.

What Sarah wrote is absolutly correct; Mc Enroe and Connors did a lot worse than Serena. Some times ago, there was a topic concerning Miss Williams who had the impression to be russian. Because, on the WTA's tournaments, she meet so many russians players. I have a good advise for the whole Willams' family: Move to Russia where there is less racism... Best Regards. Jean-Claude Meslin

The more I think about my previous comment the more I like it. Serena Williamsova and her sister Venus Williamsova in the WTA top ten. What a standing ! Best Regards. Jean-Claude Meslin