During the semifinals of US Open 2009 against Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams was docked a point for abusing a match official. When a lineswoman called her foot-fault, a furious Serena walked towards the official and said: “I swear to God I’ll f***ing take the ball and shove it down your f***ing throat.”

Receiving the point penalty meant the American ace was a match point down. Soon after, it was game, set, and match for Clijsters. Few days after Serena’s meltdown, the governing body issued a fine of $82,500 for her outburst.

But, later at the Australian Open 2010, she expressed her belief that a man would have never been fined as much as she was. She explained the double standards that exist in the world, where there are a different set of rules for men and women.

Serena Williams’ thoughts

“It is a lot of money to fine someone. People said worse, done worse. I just thought it was a bit — I think it was a bit much. But that was that. Well, we live in a world that still, men are, just leading a lot of things,” said Serena Williams.

“In tennis, I think we’ve been able to do really well with having fought so hard to get equal prize money. I think that’s really good. But I think we still sort of, say, live in a man’s world. I’m the first to say that I like men to be strong, to be leaders. I think that’s absolutely important. But I just think at the same time some incidents can bring you back to life and back into reality.”

All her words are more than ten years old now and, surprisingly, the circumstances are still the same. And we continue to live in a male-dominated society.

In 2009, the now-23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was initially issued a fine of $175,000 for her outburst. It was in lieu of suspending her from the 2010 US Open or other Grand Slam events.

Read More – WATCH: When Serena Williams Abused a Lineswoman at US Open 2009 Semifinals

She was also on probation for two-years. Had committed another offense in those two years at a Grand Slam, US Open officials would have suspended her from the final Major of the season. Fortunately, for the next two years, nothing of the sort occurred on her behalf. Subsequently, the officials reduced the fine to $82,500.