ENGLISHBy now, the fourth grandslam tournament of the year, the 2009 US Open, is nearly completed. The only two finals which haven't been played are men singles final, which meets defending champion and world no. 1, Roger Federer, vs Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro, and the women doubles final, which meets defending champions and world no.1s in doubles, Cara Black and Liezel Huber vs team that never lost in any grandslam final, Venus Williams and Serena Williams.
Anyway, there were many interesting and exciting things that happened during this year's US Open, making it (probably), the most "exiciting" grandslam of the year. One of the hottest might be Serena Williams' outburst during her semifinal match against Kim Clijsters. Williams, the defending champion, was serving at 15-30 in the 12th game in which Serena lost the first set 4-6 and now the position of the second set was 5-6. She was called by lineswoman for a foot fault, meaning Williams' foot were judged to be over the baseline. Williams' didn't think it was the right call, and she suddenly reached her boiling point saying to the lineswoman:
"I swear to God I'm F___ going to take this F___ ball and shove it down your F___ throat, you hear that? I swear to God"
The lineswoman found that threatening (no wonder) and reported it to the chair umpire, who later decided it was another code of violation (after Serena got one after her losing the first set and bashed her racket out of frustration). This caused the point was rewarded to Clijsters, who was already leading 40-15, which eventually gace her the game, and further the match!! What a timing!! Should it happened on another previous point, Clijsters would only "get" one point, not one match (according to the rule, a match was given to the opponent after four codes of violation). It was "only" the second code of violation but it led to giving the match away for Serena Williams. This shows how crucial the point was, and how "bad" the "timing" was for Serena Williams.
Well, tho it's not really a nice thing to do, especially being done by Serena Williams, one of the best female tennis player playing in the world tour today, I still understand the situation. I mean, the pressure was really high. She lost the first set, she was serving in the second set while Clijsters was pretty close to her match point, plus being frustrated for being dominated (and didn't play her best) against Clijsters. It's true that she was supposed to be able to handle her emotion, but she is a human also, where people make mistakes some times. It's true that the behaviour was not professional at all and Serena should get consequence for what she did. She is already fined $10,000 for what she did plus another $500 (source: here), and according to the rule it was already the MAXIMUM number of fine to apply to a player at that stage of a tournament. Beside, there's a chance that she will not be eligible to receive $350,000 for her achievement in this year's US Open singles.
It's a good thing that the tournament chose to decide against the decision to ban her from the women doubles final, since I think that's a bit too "far" and largely not fair for Venus Williams, her doubles partner, who did nothing. Beside, banning her from the doubles competition is also not fair for Serena, as there would not be enough time to review the incident and investigate what really happened, objectively, rite?
If I were the one who was in the comittee to decide what consequence Serena should suffer, well, probably the lifting of $350,000 as her prize for her achievement in 2009 US Open (plus the $10,000 + $500 fine) is enough and it might be the furthest the consequence should be. I have read some comments saying Serena should be banned from all tournaments toward the end of this year, plus, she should be evaluated for playing next year. I was like: "What?", it shouldn't be that far. I mean, if Serena was banned from playing, the women tour will "lose" another great and consistent player. It would be such a shame that Serena was banned while Clijsters just returned to the sport. She also doesn't need to be banned from 2010 Australian Open, in where she will be the defending champion. I think, it's just too far. She has already been punished for what she did, lost that match in such a way, she regretted what she did, and I think that's enough. People should move on, not to forget this incident, but to just keep it in the past and remember it as a good lesson (as for other players too).
But we will see :D
Anyway, I just read an official statement from Serena Williams regarding to this incident:
Serena Williams Statement, September 14, 2009
“I want to amend my press statement of yesterday, and want to make it clear as possible - I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I'm a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I'm wrong. I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act -- win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.
I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.”
::: outbursting Serena Williamsnote : photo taken from Yahoo Sports.
BAHASA INDONESIASaat ini, turnamen grandslam keempat tahun ini, 2009 US Open, sudah hampir selesai. Dua final yang belum dimainkan tinggal final tunggal putra, yang mempertemukan juara bertahan dan peringkat 1 dunia, Roger Federer, melawan Juan Martin del Potro dari Argentina dan final ganda putri yang mempertemukan juara bertahan dan peringkat 1 dunia di ganda, Cara Black dan Liezel Huber melawan tim yang tidak pernah kalah di final grandslam mana pun, Venus Williams dan Serena Williams.
Ngomong2, ada buanyak hal menarik sekali yang terjadi sepanjang turnamen US Open ini, membuatnya mungkin menjadi grandslam paling "menarik" tahun ini. Yang paling seru mungkin adalah ledakan emosi Serena Williams pada pertandingan semifinal-nya melawan Kim Clijsters. Williams, juara bertahan, sedang memegang serve pada posisi 15-30 di game ke-12 dimana Serena kehilangan babak pertama 4-6 dan saat itu ia sedang tertinggal 5-6. Dia dikatakan melakukan foot fault oleh penjaga garis, berarti kaki Williams dikatakan melewati garis belakang. Williams tidak merasa itu adalah keputusan yang benar, dan tiba2 ia mencapai titik mendidihnya dan berkata seperti ini ke penjaga garis:
"I swear to God I'm F___ going to take this F___ ball and shove it down your F___ throat, you hear that? I swear to God"
Penjaga garis merasa terancam (tidak heran) dengan kata-kata itu dan melaporkannya ke wasit pertandingan, yang akhirnya memutuskan itu adalah pelanggaran aturan lain (setelah Serena mendapat satu peringatan saat ia membanting raket karena frustrasi setelah kalah di babak pertama). Ini mengakibatkan poin dihadiahkan kepada Clijsters, yang sudah memimpin 40-15, yang akhirnya membuatnya memenangkan game, dan artinya memenangkan pertandingan!! Bener2 waktu yang bisa 'pas'!! Misal hal ini terjadi di poin lain sebelumnya, Clijsters "hanya" akan mendapat satu poin, bukan satu pertanginan (karena menurut aturan, pertandingan diberikan ke lawan apabila telah dijatuhkan empat kode pelanggaran). Waktu itu, itu "baru" kode kedua yang diterima Serena Williams tetapi kode itu membuatnya kehilangan seluruh pertandingan. Ini menunjukkan bagaimana pentingnya poin itu, dan waktu yang "buruk" bagi Serena Williams.
Hmm, walau itu bukan hal baik untuk dilakukan, apalagi dilakukan oleh seorang Serena Williams, salah satu petenis wanita terbaik di tur dunia saat ini, aku sih masih memahami situasinya. Maksudnya, tekanannya tinggi sekali. Dia kehilangan babak pertama, ia sedang memegang serve di babak kedua ketika Clijsters berada dekat dengan match point, ditambah lagi frustrasi karena permainannya didominasi oleh Clijsters (dan tidak tampil pada kondisi prima). Memang benar kalau seharusnya ia mampu menahan emosinya, tetapi dia kan manusia, dimana manusia itu melakukan kesalahan. Benar kalau tindakannya itu tidak profesional dan Serena harus mendapat konsekuensi atas perbuatannya. Ia sudah dikenai sanksi $10.000 untuk apa yang ia lakukan ditambah $500 (sumber: disini), dan menurut aturan itu kan sudah jumlah sanksi MAKSIMUM yang dapat diberikan untuk tingkat itu dalam suatu turnamen. Di samping itu, masih ada kemungkinan juga kan ia tidak akan menerima hadiah $350.000 atas prestasinya di tungal US Open tahun ini.
Bagus sih turnamennya memutuskan untuk tidak melarang ia bermain di final ganda putri, selain karena aku rasa itu agak terlalu "jauh", itu juga sangat tidak adil bagi Venus Williams, partner ganda-nya, yang tidak salah apa-apa. Di samping itu, melarangnya bermain di ganda juga kurang adil bagi Serena karena itu berarti tidak akan ada cukup waktu untuk melihat kembali insiden itu dan menginvestigasinya dengan objektif, ya ga?
Kalau aku ada di posisi dimana aku perlu memutuskan konsekuensi apa yang harus Serena terima, hmm, aku rasa sih pencabutan hak hadiah $350.000 sebagai hadiahnya di tunggal putri US Open 2009 (ditambah sanksi $10.000 + $500) udah cukup banget tuh dan mungkin memang itu yang paling jauh yang bisa dilakukan. Aku baca beberapa komentar yang menyatakan Serena perlu dilarang main di semua turnamen sepanjang tahun ini dan dievaluasi untuk main di tahun depan. Komentarku: "Apa?", rasanya tak perlu sejauh itu deh. Maksudnya, kalau memang Serena akan dilarang bermain, tur wanita akan kehilangan lagi seorang pemain yang hebat dan konsisten. Lucu aja gitu ya melihat Serena dilarang main ketika Clijsters baru kembali ke tenis. Dia juga tidak perlu lah dilarang bermain di Australian Open 2010 dimana ia adalah juara bertahannya. Itu juga terlalu jauh menurutku. Dia sudah dihukum atas perlakuannya, kalah suatu pertandingan dengan cara seperti itu, dia juga sudah menyesali perbuatannya, rasanya cukup tuh. Semua sekarang perlu melanjutkan hidup deh, bukan berarti melupakan insiden ini, tapi mengingatnya sebagai pelajaran yang baik (untuk pemain lain juga).
Tapi kita akan lihat :)
Ngomong2, baru aja aku membaca pernyataan resmi dari Serena Williams mengenai insiden ini:
Serena Williams Statement, September 14, 2009
“I want to amend my press statement of yesterday, and want to make it clear as possible - I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I'm a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I'm wrong. I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act -- win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.
I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.”
No comments:
Post a Comment