Serena Williams hit back at the disgraced head of the Russian Tennis Federation yesterday after his racist and sexist comments led to a year ban from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Shamil Tarpischev referred to Venus and Serena as “the Williams brothers” on Russian television and, despite writing a letter of apology to the pair, Serena made it clear that she was unhappy with the comment.

“I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying,” Williams said.