Serena hits Wimbledon officials with stunning threat

When you're World No.1 you can throw your weight around and that's exactly what Serena Williams did during her fourth round clash at Wimbledon.

Williams allegedly threatened to sue officials if the Centre Court roof was not closed as drizzle fell during her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The defending champ was unhappy when she slipped over during a tense first set, protesting with the chair umpire that the grass was too slippery.

Williams was heard to say: "I'm going to fall. I don't get it. Can't they just close the roof?". If I get hurt, I'm suing."

Frenchman Gilles Simon made a similar threat last week when Aussie John Blom was in the chair.

Tournament referee Andrew Jarrett conferred with both players, then closed the roof when Williams refused to go on.

Williams subsequently made light work of her opponent, cruising to a 7-5 6-0 win.

"What I say on the court, whether it's smashing my rackets, it's in the heat of the moment," said the American, who picked up a $US10,000 fine for racquet abuse in an earlier match.

"I have no plans, no future of suing Wimbledon. Let's get serious. That's not what I do."