Photo: Edwin Martinez · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in United States · Nationality American — Sport / tennis

Serena Williams

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “US Open 2009: Verbal threat towards line judge, record fine and Grand Slam probation” and “US Open 2011: Insults directed at chair umpire and $2,000 fine”.

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Profile No. 1508 · Updated on 12 October 2026

8Documented controversies

11Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2024-08

Paris 2024: Public complaint after refusal of a table at Peninsula; hotel says fully booked and apologises

No legal proceedings

During the Paris Olympics, Williams stated on X that a restaurant at the Peninsula had denied rooftop access to her and her children despite tables she believed were available.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ReutersParis restaurant apologises to Serena Williams, says was fully bookedNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2019-07

Wimbledon 2019: $10,000 fine for damaging practice court

Civil / administrative proceedings

Wimbledon fined Williams $10,000 for damaging a practice court before the start of the tournament.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBC Sports / APSerena Williams fined $10,000 at WimbledonNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2018-06–2018-07

2018 anti-doping tests: Williams alleges discrimination in frequency of testing

No legal proceedings

Williams publicly criticised the frequency of her out-of-competition anti-doping tests, arguing that she was tested much more frequently than other players and describing this as discrimination.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
Reuters / EuronewsSerena says she is victim of discrimination over drug testsNews agencyVery high reliability
[2]
Reuters / EuronewsSerena Williams not at home when drug tester arrived for surprise testNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2018-08

French Open 2018: Future ban on her black catsuit and debate over clothing, health and sexism

No legal proceedings

The president of the French Tennis Federation announced that the black catsuit Williams wore at Roland-Garros would no longer be accepted, arguing that players must 'respect the game and the place'. The outfit had been chosen partly for medical reasons relating to her risk of blood clots.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
The GuardianSerena Williams' catsuit banned from French OpenMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Los Angeles Times / APSerena Williams' catsuit won't be allowed at future French OpensNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2018-09

US Open 2018: Three code violations, game penalty and $17,000 in fines

Civil / administrative proceedings

In the US Open final against Naomi Osaka, Williams received a coaching warning, a point penalty for smashing her racket and a game penalty for verbal abuse of umpire Carlos Ramos. The fines totalled $17,000.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
US OpenUS Open official statement on women's final between Williams and OsakaOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
BBC SportSerena Williams fined $17,000 for US Open code violationsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2013-06

Steubenville 2013: Remarks seen as victim-blaming in rape case and public apology

No legal proceedings

In an interview, Williams commented on the Steubenville rape case, suggesting that the victim perhaps should not have put herself in that situation and that the sentences imposed on the boys were severe. The remarks prompted strong outrage.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ABC NewsSerena Williams sorry for Steubenville rape remarksMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2011-09

US Open 2011: Insults directed at chair umpire and $2,000 fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

In the US Open final against Samantha Stosur, Williams challenged a hindrance ruling and insulted umpire Eva Asderaki during a change of ends. The tournament imposed a $2,000 fine.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
CBS New York / APSerena Williams fined $2,000 by U.S. OpenNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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2009-09–2009-11

US Open 2009: Verbal threat towards line judge, record fine and Grand Slam probation

Civil / administrative proceedings

During the US Open semi-final, Serena Williams protested angrily against a foot fault and directed threatening remarks at a line judge. A point penalty ended the match.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
CBS News / APSerena Williams gets $82K fine, probationNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 12 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.