Serena Williams Has Been Fined $17K and Twitter Wants Her to Pay It In Pennies

"Omg yes Serena send it all in pennies."

Serena Williams will have to pay a fine of $US17,000 (or approximately $AUD24,000) for her three code violations from the contentious U.S. Open women’s singles final. And though it'll hardly break her bank balance, Twitter has a payment strategy in mind:

Serena Williams has been fined 17,000 dollars for three code violations during the US Open. I hope she pays in pennies.

— Kayleigh Aleck (@aleck_kayleigh) September 10, 2018

According to the United States Tennis Association, tournament referee Brian Earley ruled Williams should pay $US4,000 for a coaching violation, $US3,000 for racket abuse, and $US10,000 for verbal abuse; the latter being the third violation that ultimately cost her a game in her bout against Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

Osaka wound up winning the final 6 -2, 6-4. However, the victory was marred by boos from the American crowd, who backed Williams not only in the match but in her stoush with chair ump Carlos Ramos.

Serena Williams after getting penalized because she called judge a "thief" "There;s a a lot of men who have said things and because they are men nothing happens to them"....pic.twitter.com/Vr9WTspqFw

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) September 8, 2018

After the match, Williams called out the sexist double standard female players have to face in tennis.

"I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff. And for me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark," she said.

"He's never [taken] a game from a man because they said 'thief.' For me it blows my mind. But I'm going to continue to fight for women."

Though the controversial final has kicked off a long-simmering debate—one that entangles race, gender equality, sportsmanship and the intricacies of tedious tennis regulations—many are protesting Williams’ fines the only way they know how: by suggesting a hilarious prank on Twitter.

Specifically, that she should pay her fines in pennies (the equivalent of one cent).

Omg yes Serena send it all in pennies

— DieHardkingsfan♡ (@ThankYouBob44) September 10, 2018

Serena should pay they ass in pennies . She made $17,000 while that tweet was being sent out lmao

— Mrs. Shawna J👩🏾‍💼💃🏽👭🏳️‍🌈👩‍👩‍👦 (@shawnj3000) September 9, 2018

How I want Serena @serenawilliams to pay for that 17,000 fine pic.twitter.com/CyxsdkGXUT

— Hani Lee (@HaniLee1) September 9, 2018

I want @serenawilliams to pay that fine in pennies

— ItsPattiWithAnI (@PattiMaribel) September 10, 2018

I hope @serenawilliams sends that $17,000 fine in pennies.

— Diana (@LozanoD10) September 10, 2018

it’s 3AM and i’m just up praying that Serena pays that fine in pennies.

— chris (@chrislaawrence) September 10, 2018

Me, yesterday: "Tennis? Is that a sportsball thing?"

Me, today: "I hope Serena pays that bullshit fine in pennies and that asshole dude never calls another game in his wretched life, I will write petitions until my fingers fall off, I am so damn pi

— Ana Mardoll (@AnaMardoll) September 9, 2018

So, in conclusion, prepare for pennies.

Header Image: ESPN