Open-American media turn on "classless" Serena Williams

[DeclinetoState]

By Simon Cambers

NEW YORK, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The American media turned on Serena Williams (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/players/134/;_ylt=AlBhJc8Qee4nmOLGhByH6wcpv7YF) on Wednesday, labelling the former world number one as "classless" and "graceless" after her sullen reaction to her U.S. Open exit at the hands of Justine Henin (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/players/4218/;_ylt=AmhDqAhaLkAbBGLZk90COyUpv7YF).

Top seed Henin beat the American 7-6 6-1 in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive grand-slam event on Tuesday but a despondent Williams gave the Belgian scant praise.

"I just think she made a lot of lucky shots and I made a lot of errors," Williams said at her news conference.

"I really don't feel like talking about it. It's like I don't want to get fined. That's the only reason I came. I can't afford to pay the fines because I keep losing."

Players who fail to appear for post-match news conferences face fines from tennis officials.
More (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=reu-openserenareaction&prov=reuters&type=lgns)

At least she's not running a dogfighting operation.

[Beowulf]

"I just think she made a lot of lucky shots and I made a lot of errors," Williams said at her news conference.
She didn't make excuses which is more than I can say for some.

"I really don't feel like talking about it. It's like I don't want to get fined. That's the only reason I came. I can't afford to pay the fines because I keep losing."

Again, she makes no excuses. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't much feel like talking about it either. It's also become a shame that professional athletes in all sports can't criticize officiating, the opposition or whatever because they get fined for speaking their mind.

[BabyBeastie]

This isn't the first time she's gotten her butt beaten by Henin. I believe this is the third time...in a row (if I'm not mistaken).

Williams played as well as she could have against Henin. From what I heard on ESPN, Henin ran William's @ss all over the court and made her look aloof.

Williams wouldn't even say that she was just having a bad night.

Williams got beat by a much better player and will not admit it because she thinks she's the better player, not Henin.:punish: