Karolina sprem malfunction

          Sprem erased Williams' first set point with a forehand passing shot....

          Mistake No Excuse For Venus

          Controversy follows tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams like rain on a Florida summer afternoon. It's not a matter of whether it's going to happen, just when.

          It happened again on Thursday.

          This time, it was Venus who was involved.

          Williams suffered her earliest defeat at Wimbledon in seven years, falling in the second round to Karolina Sprem 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6).

          The controversy arose during the tiebreaker in the second set.

          Serena Williams says that Karolina Sprem should have pointed out the controversial umpire's error during Sprem's Wimbledon victory over sister.

        1. Serena Williams says that Karolina Sprem should have pointed out the controversial umpire's error during Sprem's Wimbledon victory over sister.
        2. British umpire Ted Watts made an error in the second set tiebreak of Thursday's match against twice former champion Venus when he awarded Sprem.
        3. Sprem erased Williams' first set point with a forehand passing shot.
        4. The stray extra point came when Sprem, serving at in the tie-break, committed a fault on her first serve.
        5. Sprem said she did not notice the error.

          6. Williams was leading the tiebreak 2-1 with Sprem serving. Sprem's serve was called wide by the line judge. Williams casually hit the ball back across the net and Sprem returned it.

          As the players got ready for Sprem's second serve, the chair umpire gave Sprem the point.

          No one protested and the players continued to play. Williams eventually got the lead to 6-3 only to lose five straight points and the match.

          Tournament referee Alan Mills said because no player or other linesman protested the error at that time, the match