New Delhi:
The new World No. 1 Serena Williams fails to be out of the headlines as after reclaiming the numero uno position, the American Champion has posed for the newly launched sports magazine from ESPN.
But here is the catch. The magazine has got Serena to do a first in her career. She's stripped down to just her sandals for the latest edition of the magazine, which is called the body issue.
Serena topped the ranking on Tuesday with an easy 6-3, 6-2 second round win over Russia's Ekaterina Makarova at the China Open.
However, she still faces a possible ban from the next Grand Slam at the Australian open because of her US Open outburst. She is under an International Tennis Federation investigation and been asked to explain her extraordinary outburst in the US Open semi-finals last month and faces a ban of up to two Grand Slams under the sport's code of conduct.
She had allegedly told a line judge that she would kill her.
"You don't know me. You better be right. I swear to God I'm going to take this ball and shove it down your throat," she had apparently told the line judge after losing her cool over a foot fault call. Serena had apologised but the investigation is still on.
If officials decide to hit Williams with a ban, Australian Open officials are certain to lobby for the penalty to be served at next year's US Open.
"We've been in touch with Serena and her team and it's going to be up to the ITF," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told 'Daily Telegraph'.
"She was given a point penalty, which cost her the match, and fined the maximum fine. The ITF is investigating what their decision is going to be. But we're confident she's going to be here in January," Tiley further added.
If suspended, she could appeal to an independent tribunal.
But here is the catch. The magazine has got Serena to do a first in her career. She's stripped down to just her sandals for the latest edition of the magazine, which is called the body issue.
Serena topped the ranking on Tuesday with an easy 6-3, 6-2 second round win over Russia's Ekaterina Makarova at the China Open.
However, she still faces a possible ban from the next Grand Slam at the Australian open because of her US Open outburst. She is under an International Tennis Federation investigation and been asked to explain her extraordinary outburst in the US Open semi-finals last month and faces a ban of up to two Grand Slams under the sport's code of conduct.
She had allegedly told a line judge that she would kill her.
"You don't know me. You better be right. I swear to God I'm going to take this ball and shove it down your throat," she had apparently told the line judge after losing her cool over a foot fault call. Serena had apologised but the investigation is still on.
If officials decide to hit Williams with a ban, Australian Open officials are certain to lobby for the penalty to be served at next year's US Open.
"We've been in touch with Serena and her team and it's going to be up to the ITF," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told 'Daily Telegraph'.
"She was given a point penalty, which cost her the match, and fined the maximum fine. The ITF is investigating what their decision is going to be. But we're confident she's going to be here in January," Tiley further added.
If suspended, she could appeal to an independent tribunal.
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