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Sports

‘I can’t control God’ – Williams tells Umpire after time violation in winds

By : cd on 18 May 2021, 10:52     |     Source: bbcsport

Venus Williams of Unitesd States celebrates during his Women's Singles match against Jennifer Brady of United States on day two of the WTA 1000 - Mutua Madrid Open 2021 at La Caja Magica on April 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain (Photo by Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto)

Venus Williams told the umpire “I can’t control God” after getting a time violation during heavy winds in a loss to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in Parma.

The American, 40, took the first set 7-5 despite being 5-2 down to the Slovak.

But gusty conditions then forced her to take her time on serve, resulting in the time violation and a confrontation with the chair umpire.

“I’m just saying that wind blows and there is nothing I can do about that,” she told the umpire.

“I can’t control God, talk to him,” the former world number one added, pointing a finger upwards before walking back to the baseline.

The match ended 5-7 6-2 6-2, with Schmiedlova sealing her fourth consecutive victory over the seven-time Grand Slam champion after two hours and 39 minutes.