Serena Williams rests between sets during her match against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Miami yesterday. - Reuters

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP):

Serena Williams says a heckler bothered her throughout her match at the Sony Ericsson Open yesterday, making at least one racist remark before he was finally ejected.

"The guy said, 'Hit the net like any Negro would.' I was shocked," Williams said. "I couldn't believe it. I had to do a double take. I think I hit a double fault on that point."

Lodged complaint

Williams won the third-round match against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4. Williams complained late in the match to the chair umpire about the heckler.

"I shouldn't have let it bother me because growing up in Compton we had drive-bys," said Williams who was raised in Los Angeles. "I guess that's what my dad prepared me for, but I'm not going to stand for it."

Fans and security confirmed a man heckled Williams inappropriately, tournament director AdamBarrett said.

"The man was identified and escorted off the site," Barrett said. "As security determines the severity of his actions, he may not be welcomed to return. We take these matters very, very seriously."

Williams, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, is among the event's most popular players. She lives in South Florida, considers Key Biscayne her home tournament, and has won the title three times.

With a small crowd in the stadium for her late-afternoon match, she said she could hear the heckler between points and during them.

"Every time I missed a shot or a serve, he would say, That's the way to do it',"' she said. "He was calling, 'Foot fault'. He was saying, 'Hit in the net.' ... I mean, who does this? That's so elementary. You don't do this on a professional level."