Venus and Serena Williams' father, Richard, on Thursday recanted his "stupid statement" about Irina Spirlea, adding that he sees no sign of racism against his daughters on the WTA Tour.
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Richard Williams, speaking by telephone from his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., said he apologized to Spirlea for calling her "a big, tall, white turkey" after she bumped into Venus during a changeover in the U.S. Open semifinals last September. The incident, he claimed at that time, was motivated by racism."I love Irina Spirlea," Richard Williams said. "I don't see any prejudice at all. I met with her and apologized for making a stupid statement. She's a professional, and I shouldn't have talked about her that way."