"It's just completely outrageous" - When Serena Williams was annoyed by team member being accused of distracting opponents at Australian Open

Serena Williams once dismissed allegations that a member of her team had tried to sabotage her opponent's performance during her 2007 Australian Open semifinal. She called the accusation "outrageous,” defending her team against the claim.

A controversy erupted during the semifinal between Williams and Nicole Vaidisova in Melbourne that year when Vaidisova accused Williams' team of using a watch to direct sunlight into her eyes from the players' box.

After her win over the Czech, Williams addressed the allegations in a press conference, defending one of her long-time Aussie friend who had come to support her during the tournament. She dismissed the claims as rubbish, stating there was no concrete evidence to support them.

"I just think it's crazy that this was even brought up. There's so many watches. There's so many people in the stands that wear watches and things like that. It's just completely outrageous. It's silly. Come on. It's always something. This is just another thing," she said.

When asked whether her friend should have removed the watch, the 23-time Grand Slam champion expressed that she saw no reason for it. She mentioned that she hadn’t noticed any reflection herself, so it didn’t seem necessary.

"I don't see why he should take it off. No one saw the glare. I never saw the glare. If anything, it would have affected me. I never saw the glare. Vaidisova said she never saw the glare. What more is there to say?" Serena Williams said.

"As of now, I'm not answering any more questions about a god-dang watch. This is stupid. Is there any more questions you want to ask me?" she added.

Serena Williams won Australian Open 2007 after defeating Maria Sharapova in final

Serena Williams pictured with the 2007 Australian Open trophy | Image Source: Getty

Serena Williams had a fantastic run at the 2007 Australian Open, ultimately winning the title for the third time. It also marked her eighth Grand Slam title overall.

Williams overcame Mara Santangelo, Anne Kremer, Nadia Petrova, Jelena Jankovic, Shahar Pe'er, and Nicole Vaidisova to reach the final. There, she faced her arch-rival Maria Sharapova and defeated the Russian in straight sets to get her hands on the trophy.

The 43-year-old went on to win the Melbourne Major four more times: in 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2017. She trails only Margaret Court, who won 11 titles but holds the Open Era record with seven.