Lucky Dog Speaks

Kim Clijsters deserves huge kudos for her amazing run all the way to becoming the 2009 US Open Women’s Champion. It could not have happened to a nicer person or role model for the sport that we all love. The last time a mother won a major was Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

While Serena is a fantastic player and has been a great champion, her actions in the semi-final were inexcusable and should not be tolerated. Yes it is unfortunate that the timing of the foot-fault call was less than ideal. However, threatening a linesman the way she did and approaching her not once but twice should not be tolerated. In any other sport, she would have been suspended, almost immediately. The $10,000 fine while it may be the maximum allowed to be given, by the US Open, is not sufficient. You would not see other greats such as Sampras, Laver, Evert, Federer, Seles or Agassi, behaving that way.

It is unfortunate that we are talking about Serena’s behavior more than how well Kim played then entire two weeks of the championship.

Hopefully this will be a learning opportunity for Serena as she is seen as a role model to many young players.