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Richard Williams lashes out at French Open crowd
London, July 03: Richard Williams, the larger-than-life father of defending Wimbledon champion Serena and two-time former winner Venus, says umpires should ensure fans do not verbally abuse players.
Richard Williams said Tuesday he was angry about the storm of booing which descended on Serena when she crashed out in the French Open semi-final to eventual winner Justine Henin-Hardenne - whom she face again here in today's semis.
"I don't think they should have booed my daughter when she missed a shot," said Richard Williams as he blasted the Roland Garros crowd which was overwhelmingly behind Belgium's Henin-Hardenne in Paris.
"I really blame the guy who was sat in the chair, that was wrong," he told reporters. "If I had been there, I would have had to walk out on the court and say 'Hey, why don't you do your job? If you're not, I'm going to get you on your behind.'
"It's wrong when you allow something to be taken over that way. When you have to play the crowd as well as your opponent that's too difficult for anyone. That was terrible."
Bureau Report