Commentator under fire for 'disgusting' Serena Williams jibe
A leading tennis commentator has been slammed for ‘disgusting’ on-air comments about Serena Williams.
The controversial moment occurred during Roger Federer’s shock loss to Kei Nishikori at the ATP Finals on Sunday.
The normally cool Swiss picked up a rare code violation for ball abuse in the first set after Nishikori produced a staggering backhand winner down the line.
Federer blasted the ball into the crowd in anger, drawing the ire of the chair umpire in the process.
Fans were shocked by the rare outburst from Federer, but they were even more shocked by comments from TV pundit Andrew Castle.
The British commentator made reference to Serena’s infamous meltdown in the US Open final, comparing it to Federer’s outburst.
“I don’t think we will see a Serena Williams meltdown and call him a liar and a thief,” Castle said after Federer questioned the chair umpire.
Many fans felt that Castle’s comments about Serena were completely unnecessary, with one social media user labelling them ‘disgusting’.
Andrew Castle is disgusting. He says – "I don't think we will see a Serena Williams meltdown yet and call him a liar and a thief", right after Federer got a coding violation and hit a ball into the crowd. @all_serena
— Qai Qai’s Protective Services 👶🏽 (@serenaw_23) November 11, 2018
That's just bad from Andrew Castle, Federer gets a cold violation for hitting the ball into the crowd. He says – "I don't think we will see a Serena Williams meltdown yet and call him a liar and a thief" That is very poor.
— Iain Fordyce (@IainFordyce) November 11, 2018
@AndrewCastle63 commentating on the ATP Nishikori vs Federer game says that Federer is not about to have a Serena style meltdown after the former is spoken to by the umpire. Well that’s because the umpire had docked a point from Federer! What a ridiculous false equivalence
— Syma Khalid (@ProfSyK) November 11, 2018
Was there any need for Andrew Castle to bring up the Serena incident in response to a warning for Federer?
— E R J (@ILoveSport356) November 11, 2018
Already had Andrew Castle bring up the Serena incident!
— E R J (@ILoveSport356) November 11, 2018
Serena caused a major stir during her loss in the final at Flushing Meadows, receiving three code violations and getting docked a service game.
She called umpire Carlos Ramos a ‘thief’ after the game was docked, furious that she had been accused of receiving coaching from the stands.
Federer was also less than impressed with his umpire on Sunday.
“He thought I was angry,” Federer said afterwards, when asked what he had said to umpire Damian Steiner.
“I wasn’t. Now I’m angry because I lost, but … He knows me very well apparently, or he thought so.”
The loss marks the first time that Federer has ever lost in straight-sets at the ATP Finals.