World number one Serena Williams has said that she and her sister Venus have received a written apology from Russian Tennis Federation's president after he caused a storm by making sexist, racist and bullying comments about them and calling them the 'Williams brothers'.
Serena said that Shamil Tarpischev, who has been fined 25,000 dollars and banned for a year by the Women's Tennis Association over the remarks he made on a TV chat show, had reached out over the controversy.
Serena said that Tarpischev has reached out to apologize to both herself and her sister, Sport24 reported.
Serevena, after her 6-1, 6-1 win over Eugenie Bouchard at the WTA Finals in Singapore, said that it was written, adding that she did not speak to Tarpischev.
The world number one had earlier slammed Tarpischev's comments, which also earned a strongly worded rebuke from WTA chief Stacey Allaster and condemnation from Russia's world number two Maria Sharapova.
Serena had said that Tarpischev's comments were very insensitive, extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time, and added that she thought they were in a way bullying.
Tarpischev, a vastly experienced coach and administrator, has also issued a public apology for his remarks but he insisted that his joke did not merit the attention it has received.
