Tennis chief apologizes to Serena, Venus for offensive comments

Serena Williams says she has received a written apology from Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev for offensive comments in which he called her and sister Venus the ''Williams brothers.''

At the WTA Finals on Thursday, Williams said ''he has reached out to apologize to both myself and my sister'', adding ''it was written. No, I did not speak to him.''

Tarpischev was fined $25,000 and suspended from tour involvement for a year for his comments on a Russian TV show, in which he also said the sisters were ''scary'' to look at.

Tarpischev said there was no malicious intent, and the quotes were taken out of context.

The WTA said in a statement that ''his derogatory remarks deserve to be condemned.''