The Women's Tennis Association has fined Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation for his derogatory remarks towards Venus and Serena Williams.

According to the New York Daily News, Tarpischev referred to the athletes as "the Williams Brothers" and said they were scary to look at during his interview with a Russian television talk show earlier this month.

After calling them brothers, Tarpischev said he respected the sisters but was intimidated by their size. "I have tremendous respect for them (the Williams) but once one of the sisters passed next to me and I found myself in her shadow for about 40 seconds," he said.

The Russian boss was fined $25,000 for his remarks by the WTA. The association released a statement after Tarpischev's comments went viral.

"Mr. Tarpischev's statements questioning their genders tarnish our great game and two of our champions," WTA Tour chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said in a statement Friday. "His derogatory remarks deserve to be condemned and he will be sanctioned."

Tarpischev says the incident is being blown out of proportion since he was just telling a few jokes.

"I regret that this joke ... has garnered so much attention," he said. "I don't think this incident deserves so much fuss."

Venus has stayed mum on the news, but Serena had a lot to say about the slurs. When asked about the incident during the WTA Tour Finals in Singapore Sunday, Serena called the comments racist and sexist.

"I think the WTA did a great job of taking initiative and taking immediate action to his comments. I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time," she said. "It was very inappropriate, especially in his position and all the responsibilities that he has not just in sport, but being part of the Olympic committee. It was just really irresponsible on his side."

Serena is currently competing for her third straight title at the event.

Source: New York Daily NewsCNN | Photo Credit: Splash News