Serena Williams of the US against Kim Clijsters from Belgium during their Women's Semi-Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 12, 2009 in New York. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
"I want to amend my press statement of yesterday, and want to make it clear as possible —I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA (U.S. Tennis Association) and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst," she said.
"I'm a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I'm wrong.
"I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act —win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner."
With Clijsters closing in the victory Saturday night, Williams was called for a foot-fault on a second serve to give the Belgian a match point.
Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the lineswoman, saying in part, "I swear to God I'm... going to take this ball and shove it down your... throat."
Having already received an earlier warning for smashing a racket, Williams was handed an automatic point penalty for a second violation which gave Clijsters the match.
When asked by the media in the post-match news conference if she believed she should apologise, Williams replied: "An apology? From me? Well, how many people yell at linespeople?"
But after two days of negative headlines and with the threat of a ban from the tour hanging over her, Williams's stance softened once tennis officials fined her $10,500 and launched an investigation into the incident.
"I like to lead by example," Williams, the world's second-ranked woman, said in Monday's statement. "We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result."
Williams played in the Open's women's doubles final with her sister Venus on Monday and there was no discernible reaction form the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
