Serena Williams has a strong response to Russian Tennis Federation after they called her and older sister Venus as ''brothers.'' She said that it was a form of bullying, sexist and racist, and that she supported the one-year suspension imposed by the WTA against the official.
Aside from the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev was also fined $25,000 for making the comments on Russian television. Aside from that, he also said the sisters were ''scary'' to look at.
According to Williams "'I think the WTA did a great job of taking (the) initiative and taking immediate action to his comments. I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying."
Tarpischev was asked if ever he ever regretted his comment, he answered that the program on which he spoke was ''a humorous show.''
When he was asked about his ban, he said "I can't comment. I don't understand it."
Aside from Serena, Russia's Maria Sharapova also disapproves of the comment.
She said "'I think they were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I'm glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA. It was very inappropriate, especially in his position and all the responsibilities that he has not just in sport, but being part of the Olympic committee."
Tarpischev has been chairman of the Kremlin Cup, Russia's only WTA event, for all of its 18 years as a women's tour event, and is also a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Williams, the world number 1, will join the WTA Finals after having another stellar year. She has won six titles including the US Open. But she pulled out of the China Open earlier this month with a knee injury, triggering some concerns she might not make the Singapore.
But the doctor has already given her the go signal to start practicing last week.
She said "They thought it was very bad for me to hit sooner than that. After that, I just, like I said, started training. I was surprised at how well I was able to kind of jump back into it."
