The father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams has said his family suffered racist abuse at the Indian Wells tennis tournament.
Richard Williams told USA Todayhis family were booed and taunted by a racist crowd at the Ericsson Open after Venus withdrew from a semi-final match with her sister.
"I had trouble holding back tears. I think Indian Wells disgraced America," he said.
Indian Wells tournament director Charles Pasarell told the paper that if "Richard says someone yelled something, maybe they did, but I know that's not Indian Wells people."
Williams blamed the press for creating the controversy over Venus's withdrawal from the tournament.
"The media is trying to nullify what Venus and Serena have done, cast a shadow on the family," he said.
"No, I have never asked Venus or Serena to lose a match. When Serena lost at Wimbledon, she cried like hell, not because someone asked her to lose but because Serena hates to lose."
He also said his daughters are subjected to jealousy in the locker room.