Serena Williams apologises over Steubenville rape case comments

Serena Williams has apologised after she was quoted as saying that the victim of the Steubenville rape case "shouldn't have put herself in that position".

The US tennis player was quoted by Rolling Stone magazine as making the comments about the rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, which saw two players from a high school football team convicted of raping a drunk 16-year-old girl.

The case gained US-wide attention because of the way other students shared pictures and video footage of the attack on social media.

According to the Rolling Stone article, Williams said the perpetrators of the crime "did something stupid", and asks: "Do you think it was fair, what they got?"

The Grand Slam winner said: "I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you: Don't take drinks from other people."

Williams also is quoted as saying "she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different".

Williams said in a statement on Wednesday: "I am currently reaching out to the girl's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article."

"What was written - what I supposedly said - is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame."

"What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened," Williams said in the statement. "For someone to be raped, and at only 16, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved - that of the rape victim and of the accused."

The world number one is currently in the UK preparing for Wimbledon.

"I have fought all of my career for women's equality, women's equal rights, respect in their fields - anything I could do to support women I have done," Williams said. "My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent 16-year-old child."

Women's Tennis Association CEO Stacey Allaster said the tour had been in contact with Williams about the article. Ms Allaster said: "If she was accurately quoted, then Serena's comments were both insensitive and wrong.

"We disagree with the statements and have made that clear to her."