Williams sisters documentary ruffling USTA's frocks

The United States Tennis Association isn't feeling very much love for Venus and Serena Williams — the sport's most marketable female stars — these days.

That's the message the USTA is sending out after suing the makers of a new documentary on the sisters  for copyright infringement claiming the filmmakers used unflattering — including Serena's infamous outburst during the 2009 US Open — footage without permission.

"The USTA declined [the] request to include certain footage which the USTA determined was not in the best interest of the sport," according to the complaint. It also contends the filmmakers had "broken their promises to the USTA by including unlicensed US Open footage in their commercial, for-profit film."

The suit filed Friday in White Plains, N.Y. federal court seeks a permanent injunction against "Venus and Serena," which opened last month in limited release. The film was expected to air on Showtime, but yesterday the pay-TV channel said it is in "discussions with the filmmakers and their representations about this film."

The USTA claims that broadcast journalists Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, along with VSW Productions, included footage that "the USTA made clear it would not license for use in the film."

The documentary shows Serena’s 2009 bizarre tantrum at the US Open semifinals in which she waved a tennis ball at a line judge, warning she would "shove it down" her throat.

“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,” Baird and Major said in a statement.

The filmmakers have the support of one sister. Serena, who, speaking last month at the New York premiere of the movie, called it "a really great film" and said the producers were "wonderful."

Venus reportedly withdrew her support because of the way it portrayed her father, Richard Williams, as a playboy.

John McEnroe on sibling rivalries: I'm no Venus

John McEnroe sounded a little perplexed on how Venus and Serena Williams manage to play nice with each other after seeing a screening of the film "Venus and Serena" at the IFC Center in Manhattan.

McEnroe — one of the fiercest competitors in tennis history — couldn't get a handle on how the the two sisters keep it together even when one of them has to be the victor. The former tennis great and big brother to Patrick McEnroe vented his frustration to Page Six of The New York Post:

“I do have a brother [Patrick] that played professional tennis, so I understand at least to a small degree what Venus, as the older sister, was going through,” said Mac.  “The way she has treated Serena all these years and been behind her through thick and thin is remarkable because I can guarantee you I would have dusted my brother off and told him to take a friggin’ hike if he’d started beating me. The little brother in my family doesn’t beat the older brother, and that will never happen as long as I live.” 

Just to drive home the point, he added, “I never did lose to Patrick.”

Shaq Keeping Busy; Beats Venus Williams in Oreo-eating Contest

Venus Williams finally met her match in Shaquille O'Neal at a gym in Manhattan yesterday.  One of the world's best tennis players' team lost to the newly retired NBA star's crew in an Oreo-eating contest at the Game Day Challenge sponsored by the cookie company.

O'Neal played Williams one-on-one in basketball and tennis but the highlight was the cookies-and-milk event.

Williams took the loss in stride.

"Shag got lucky today," she joked.  "But it was really fun."

Shaq didn't gloat about his victory though.

"She's fabulous," he said.  "She's always been a great athlete."

Oreo is promoting its new "Triple Double Oreo" which it introduced in August.

Those cookies just keep getting bigger and bigger, don't they?

Rafael Nadal Blasts U.S. Open Officials For Playing In Rain

Rafael Nadal, the defending  U.S. Open champion and the No. 2 ranked player in the world, ripped U.S. Open officials, after spending 15 minutes on a soggy Arthur Ashe Stadium court Wednesday afternoon, for putting money ahead of player's safety.

Nadal, who was last seen cramping up at a press conference Sunday,  could have been accused of having a Midol moment, but was later joined by Andy Roddick and Andy Murray in voicing their umbrage at tournament referee Brian Earley for allowing matches to be played on a rain-slicked surface.

"It's the same old story.  All you think about is money," Nadal could be heard telling Earley while the tennis player exited the court and the referee checked the surface to see if it was still playable.

Nadal's fourth-round match was suspended after he fell behind 3-0 to Gilles Muller.

Nadal insisted the match, which was started in a misty rain, should not have even started.  A heavier rain followed and the court got slippery and the ball got heavier.

What does Earley think this is...a Yankees-Orioles game?  Why not start the matches at 11 p.m. while you're at it.

"We want to feel good when we are playing the tournament," said Nadal.  "For sure we  cannot accept these things.  I work all my life hard to be playing...We have to fight to have  the power to say we don't want to go on the court when it's raining.  I think it's not fair."

Yesterday, the tournament postponed 54 matches due to the heavy rain and officials were eager to resume play.  If the Open goes an extra day, it would be the fourth year in-a-row the tournament has finished on a Monday.

The USTA issued a statement Wednesday afternoon explaining its decision to play in the inclement weather.

"All parties, including the players and tournament, want to get the U.S. Open back on schedule.  As of 12 noon today, the best information available to us indicated the chance of a two-hour window without rain.  Unfortunately, not all light rain and mist shows up on radar.  We have experienced referees, and they decide if courts are fit to play.  Conditions may not be ideal, but can still be safe.  However, if a player or players feel that conditions are unsafe, we listen to them, as we always done, and the referee uses that information as part of his/her assessment on whether to continue or halt play."

Nadal seems to think player's safety takes a back seat to television revenue.

In an interview with ESPN 2, Nadal said, "We're not feeling protected (by) the tournament.  I understand they need to put tennis on TV.  I understand the business side of it.  First and foremost, I think the players need to feel comfortable and safe."

Serena Williams tweeted her support for Nadal via Twitter.  "Preach @RafaelNadal preach."

In the 1999 Open, Mary Joe Fernandez injured her knee against Venus Williams after slipping on a wet court.  Fernandez won the first set, 6-2, but lost the next two, 6-1, 6-0.

Nadal better get used to it.  The forecast calls for rain through Saturday.