WebMail
My BigPond
Serena Williams was handed a three-year suspended ban from the US Open on Monday after her verbal tirade at a lineswoman at this year's event.
The incident occurred during her semi-final defeat to Kim Clijsters when Williams was called for a foot fault, handing her opponent a match point.
Williams was also fined $A95,000.
Replays indicated the foot fault call had been a harsh one and it certainly incensed the American second seed, who quickly moved towards the linesperson, waving her racquet angrily at the woman, who was then beckoned by the chair umpire to explain what had been said.
Williams earlier picked up a first code violation for smashing her racquet at the end of the first set and this time tournament referee Brian Earley was called to the chair.
After discussing the situation with the player, linesperson and chair umpire, Williams was handed a second code violation, the resultant point penalty handing victory to a bemused Clijsters, 6-4 7-5.
The International Tennis Federation's Grand Slam Committee met last week to agree on a punishment and found her guilty of 'the Grand Slam major offence of aggravated behaviour'.
She will face a ban from her home slam if she commits another 'major offence' before the end of 2011.
The penalty means Williams is free to play at the Medibank International Sydney and the year's first grand slam, the Australian Open, in January.
Williams headlines an outstanding women's field in Sydney that already includes Svetlana Kuznetsova, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Dementieva, Victoria Azarenka and Australian No.1 Samantha Stosur.
'I really enjoyed my time in Sydney this year and I am really looking forward to being back there in just a few weeks time. It's pretty amazing how quickly the year comes around,' Williams said.
'Once again it is going to be a great field and I am really happy to part of that. I look forward to seeing so many of my Australian fans in Sydney.'
World No. 13 Gael Monfils, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Baghdatis and Tomas Berdych are also confirmed for the men's draw.
