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London - There have been many instances of tennis players taking their frustrations out on referees, but Serena Williams took it to a whole new level when she threatened to sue a Wimbledon referee over the soggy conditions.
The World No 1 voiced her anger towards referee Andrew Jarrett during her 7-5, 6-0 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova, which saw her advance to the quarter-finals.
The confrontation occurred when the court conditions became slippery and Williams directed her frustrations at Jarrett before saying that she would sue him if she got hurt.
"If I get hurt, I'm suing him," Williams said during the match.
Williams then went after umpire Marija Cicaks as she wanted the roof to be closed due to a light drizzle that was falling.
"I'm going to fall. I don't get it. Can't they just close the roof?" she said.
In her post-match press conference, the 34-year-old regretted her on-court comments and made it clear that she has no intentions of suing anyone.
"Playing on the grass is a little tricky because, you know, we don't even start play till 10:00 for practice because of the dew, the morning dew on the grass," she said. "You can definitely slide. It's very slippery out there.
"I was in the moment. I was on the court. What I say on the court, whether it's smashing my racquets or it's in the heat of the moment... I have no plans, no future of suing Wimbledon. Let's get serious. That's not what I do, that's not what I am.
"I'm not answering any more questions about that, nor will I want anyone reporting that either. That's just completely absurd and wrong."
The World No 1 voiced her anger towards referee Andrew Jarrett during her 7-5, 6-0 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova, which saw her advance to the quarter-finals.
The confrontation occurred when the court conditions became slippery and Williams directed her frustrations at Jarrett before saying that she would sue him if she got hurt.
"If I get hurt, I'm suing him," Williams said during the match.
Williams then went after umpire Marija Cicaks as she wanted the roof to be closed due to a light drizzle that was falling.
"I'm going to fall. I don't get it. Can't they just close the roof?" she said.
In her post-match press conference, the 34-year-old regretted her on-court comments and made it clear that she has no intentions of suing anyone.
"Playing on the grass is a little tricky because, you know, we don't even start play till 10:00 for practice because of the dew, the morning dew on the grass," she said. "You can definitely slide. It's very slippery out there.
"I was in the moment. I was on the court. What I say on the court, whether it's smashing my racquets or it's in the heat of the moment... I have no plans, no future of suing Wimbledon. Let's get serious. That's not what I do, that's not what I am.
"I'm not answering any more questions about that, nor will I want anyone reporting that either. That's just completely absurd and wrong."
