The Unites States Tennis Association is suing the creators of a new documentary about sisters Venus and Serena Williams for copyright infringement.
The New York Post reports USTA officials are angry over what they consider to be unflattering footage featured in the production by filmmakers Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, including Serena Williams’ infamous 2009 U.S. Open meltdown.
Filed in federal court late last week, the complaint states: “The USTA declined the request to include certain footage which the USTA determined was not in the best interest of the sport.” The Post reports top tour officials are now seeking a permanent injunction against “Venus and Serena,” which opened in limited release last month.
In addition to Baird and Major, both broadcast journalists by trade, the suit also names VSW Productions as a defendant. Prior to the suit, the film was also expected to air on Showtime, but The Post now reports executives for the pay-TV channel only admit to being in “discussions with the filmmakers.”
In a statement, Baird and Major both openly wondered “what is the USTA afraid of? We’re shocked by this shameful effort to interfere with telling the story of the two most iconic female athletes in American history — a film that they have supported and collaborated on for years,” the statement continued.
In one scene the documentary highlights Serena’s 2009 Open tirade in which she waved a tennis ball at a line judge during the semifinals and warned her she would “shove it down” her throat.
Filmmakers have the support of at least one Williams’ sister. At last month’s New York opening, Serena called it “a really great film” and said the producers were “wonderful.”
Older sister Venus reportedly withdrew her support because of the way it portrayed her father, Richard Williams, as a playboy.
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