Monday 20 October 2014 11:18, UK
Serena Williams says Russian tennis federation president Shamil Tarpischev's comments about her and her sister Venus are "sexist, racist and bullying".
Tarpischev, who is also the Russian Davis and Fed Cup captain and a member of the International Olympic Committee, referred to world No 1 Serena and Venus as "the Williams brothers" on Russian television.
He made the comments on late-night show 'Evening with Urgant' when appearing alongside former Russian professional Elena Dementieva but claims they were taken out of context and only meant as jokes.
The Russian was fined 25,000 US dollars and suspended from any involvement with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for a year while the governing body is also seeking his removal from his position as chairman of the board of the Kremlin Cup for a year.
Williams, who is preparing to play in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, told the New York Times: "I thought (the comments) were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying.
"I've done the best that I can do, and that's all I can say. So I just wasn't very happy with his comments. I think a lot of people weren't happy as well.
I thought (the comments) were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying.
"The WTA and the USTA (United States Tennis Association) did a wonderful job of making sure that - in this day and age, 2014 - for someone with his power, it's really unacceptable to make such bullying remarks."
Russia's five-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova also backed up her fellow professional.
She said of Tarpischev's remarks: "I think they were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I'm glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA.
Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of the WTA, on Saturday called for Tarpischev to apologise and he issued a statement that read: "Serena and Venus, of course, are outstanding athletes. They show the highest class of tennis. You can see - they are on a different level.
"The Williams sisters will always stand out on the tour and in the sport as a whole due to their achievements and their skills. They represent strength and perseverance and achieved results that for a long time will be considered as the
highest bar for other players.
"I regret that that joke, which when translated into English has been taken out of humorous context, was the focus of so much attention. I do not think that this story deserves such hype. After all, everything said on the air was said
without malice."
