News Digest

Serena Williams slams ‘sexist’ slur by Russian federation chief

World number one tennis player Serena Williams lashed out at “sexist” and racist” comments from the head of Russian tennis Sunday after he jokingly called her and her sister Venus the “Williams brothers”. Williams applauded swift action from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which fined Russian federation chief Shamil Tarpischev (pictured) $25,000 and banned him from tennis for a year. Tarpishchev, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, made an official apology later on Saturday after a WTA demand he do so.

His comments, I thought, were very insensitive, I thought they were extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time, and I thought they were in a way bullying.

Serena Williams

Appearing on a chat show, the programme host said to Tarpishchev: “I was at the Olympics, where Maria Sharapova was in the final, playing with one, with one of the….” before the RTF head responded by saying “Williams brothers”. American Serena Williams, 33, is the current world number one and has won 18 grand slam singles titles. She has also teamed up with her elder sister Venus to win 13 grand slams and three Olympic gold medals in doubles.