Serena Williams issued an apology via Twiiter for her controversial comments in the July issue of Rolling Stone about the Steubenville rape case, for pointing fingers at the 16-year-old victim.

"What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy!" the French Open winner wrote on her official website. 

Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'lik Richmond, 16, were convicted in March of raping a female friend while she was drunk at a party in Steubenville, Ohio in August 2012.

When the tennis champion was asked about her opinion about the conviction of two Steubenville, Ohio football players who raped the teenager, Williams initially admonished the girl's behavior, saying "that she shouldn't have put herself in that position."

"I'm not blaming the girl," the 31-year-old told Rolling Stone, "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 seemed at odds with agreeing if the young men deserved to go to jail, and said the victim's parents should've taught her better.

"Do you think it was fair, what they got?" William asked. "They did something stupid, but I don't know. 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."

After being bashed on social media for her comments, she apologized for not being sensitive to the matter.

"For both families involved - that of the rape victim and of the accused. 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," she wrote.

Tags: Serena Williams