US Open fine a 'good thing': Serena

Serena Williams has described her record fine for abusing a lineswoman at last
year's US Open as a "good" thing.
Williams said after winning her Australian Open first round match against Poland's
Urszula Radwanska, that she had responded by raising money for charity, including
the devastated Caribbean nation of Haiti.
"I wrote an article about it. $92,000 is a lot of money to fine someone," Williams
said. "I always said what I did wasn't right, but I turned that around and I'm
actually raising $92,000 to educate ladies, women, also for my school in Africa.
"Also I'm giving some money to Haiti, as well, because of the recent things.
"I just think that the whole incident was a learning experience. And I actually
think it was good that it happened, that I got fined. At the end of the day I'm
raising money to help other people ..."
However, she still believes the fine - and a two-year good behaviour bond - for
abusing a lineswoman during her semi-final against Kim Clijsters, was extreme and
sexist. She says had a man acted that way he would have escaped with a less severe
punishment.
"We live in a world that still has men leading in a lot of things," she said.
"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."
Serena and sister Venus are conducting an on-line auction to raise the money for
charity.
"You have the auction. You can go to my website to find more about it. I'm
auctioning a dress I wore at the Olympics," she said.
"Venus gave stuff. She was forced to. We're getting so many cool people to donate
stuff. The money is going to a great cause. I don't think it would have happened if
I hadn't gotten fined."
Williams said she was not affected by the suspended two-year ban hanging over her head.
"No, that hasn't crossed my mind at all as if I yell too much, it would be a
problem," she said.
"I feel like I can always be myself. You know, I just do the best that I can. I'll
say, C'mon. I'll get frustrated. I'll still be human. I'll still make mistakes. I'll
still learn from them."