Serena Williams accuses Russian tennis chief of ‘sexist, racist and bullying’ remarks after he said she and Venus were ‘scary’ to look at

Tennis star Serena Williams has accused the Russian tennis chief of making ‘extremely sexist, racist and bullying’ comments after he described her and her sister Venus as ‘scary’ to look at.

Shamil Tarpischev, of the Russian Tennis Federation, made the remarks during an appearance on a local TV talk show this month alongside former Olympic singles champion Elena Dementieva.

When Dementieva was asked what it was like playing against the Williams sisters, Tarpischev cut in and called them the ‘Williams brothers’, before adding: ‘It’s scary when you really look at them.

World number one: Speaking on Russian television, Tarpischev, of the Russian Tennis Federation, referred to Serena (pictured) and her sister as the ‘Williams brothers’, adding: ‘It’s scary when you really look at them’

The official was later handed a one-year suspension imposed by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for the comments. He was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.

Speaking in Singapore today, ahead of her WTA Finals defense, Williams said: ‘I think the WTA did a great job of taking (the) initiative and taking immediate action to his comments.

‘I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying. ‘

When asked whether he regretted his comments, Tarpischev initially told AP that the program on which he spoke was ‘a humorous show.’ He added that he ‘didn’t understand’ his one-year ban.

Angry: She added: ‘I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist [and] racist at the same time’

But in a statement later released by the Russian Tennis Federation, the chief denied any ‘malicious intent’ and said his quotes had been taken out of context.