NEW YORK, N.Y. - Serena Williams was fined US$2,000 by the U.S. Open on Monday for berating the chair umpire during the final.
Tournament referee Brian Earley issued his ruling a day after Williams was cited by chair umpire Eva Asderaki for a code violation for verbal abuse during a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Sam Stosur in the women's singles championship match at Flushing Meadows.
A statement issued by the U.S. Tennis Association said the fine "is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events."
Williams earned $1.4 million at the U.S. Open: $900,000 for finishing as the runner-up, plus a $500,000 bonus for having come in first place in the U.S. Open Series standings, which take into account results at hard-court tuneup tournaments.
The USTA also said Grand Slam committee director Bill Babcock conducted his own review and determined "Williams' conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."
That means Williams does not face further disciplinary action — which could have included a fine and suspension from a Grand Slam tournament — under the "probationary period" she was put under after yelling at and threatening a line judge after a foot-fault call at the end of her loss to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals.
On Sunday night against Stosur, Williams faced a break point while serving in the first game of the second set.
Williams ripped a forehand that she celebrated with her familiar yell of "Come on!" But Asderaki ruled that the scream came while Stosur was reaching for a backhand, so the point wasn't finished. Based on the hindrance rule, Asderaki awarded the point to Stosur, putting the Australian ahead 1-0 in that set.
That set Williams off on a series of insults directed at the official, a scene far less ugly than — yet reminiscent of — her tirade on the same court two years ago.
A sampling of what Williams said, prompting Asderaki to call the code violation:
— "You're out of control."
— "You're a hater, and you're just unattractive inside."
— "Really, don't even look at me."
Asked at her news conference Sunday night whether she regretted any of her words, the 13-time Grand Slam champion rolled her eyes and replied: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. … I guess I'll see it on YouTube."
In 2009, Williams' profanity-laced outburst at a line judge led to an immediate $10,000 fine from the U.S. Open and later a record $82,500 fine from Babcock. At the time, Babcock said that if Williams committed a "major offense" at a Grand Slam tournament in 2010 or 2011, her fine could be doubled and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.
Serena Williams fined $2,000 for berating chair umpire
Serena Williams was fined $2,000 for her outburst directed at the chair umpire during her loss to Samantha Stosur in the U.S. Open final, the USTA announced on Monday. Williams was already under probation for verbally abusing a linesperson at the 2009 U.S. Open. If the USTA had deemed her conduct in Sunday’s match “a major offense,” she would have faced further discipline.
Here is the USTA’s statement:
“US Open Tournament Referee Brian Earley has fined Serena Williams $2,000 following the code violation issued for verbal abuse during the women’s singles final. This fine is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events. As with all fines at the US Open, the monies levied are provided to the Grand Slam Development Fund which develops tennis programs around the world.
“After independently reviewing the incident which served as the basis for the code violation, and taking into account the level of fine imposed by the US Open referee, the Grand Slam Committee Director has determined that Ms. Williams’ conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct.”
Oh no, she did it again.
Serena erupted once more in defeat Sunday at the U.S. Open. This time it happened in the tournament final after chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that Serena's loud "come on!," which she yelled during what she thought was a forehand winner, had been shrieked before the point was over. Since it interrupted opponent Sam Stosur's attempt at a return, Asderaki properly awarded Stosur the point because of the "hindrance rule" that states a player can't verbally interfere with opponent's points.
Stosur had already handed Serena Williams her first loss in a set at the U.S. Open. Serena was serving at 30-40 in the first game of the second when she hit the supposed winner and shrieked in approval. But she called out before the point was over, while Stosur was still make a futile attempt to get her racquet on the ball. Asderaki gave the point, and the early break that came with it, to the Australian.
Serena was understandably displeased, though she had no ground on which to stand. The call was obvious. Serena disagreed and became more incensed when she thought that the umpire, Asderaki, was the same official who was in the chair for her infamous 2009 blowup at the tournament. It wasn't.
"Aren't you the one who screwed me over last time here?" Serena asked after being told of the point penalty? "Yeah, you are." (Asderaki and Louise Engzell don't look much alike except for the high ponytail.)
Serena stood and glared at Asderaki for a few seconds while the New York crowd roared in her defense. Stosur looked momentarily stunned. Serena went on to break Stosur to even the match and continued her diatribe against the umpire during the next two changeovers.
"A code violation because I expressed who I am? We're in America last I checked. Am I gonna get violated for a water? Really, don't even look at me. I promise you, don't look at me because I am not the one. Don't look my way." [...]
[...] "If you ever see me walking down the hall, walk the other way. Because you're out of control. Totally out of control. You're a hater, you're unattractive inside. Who would do such a thing. And I never complain. Wow."
No, Serena has never been one to complain.
The same impotent U.S. Open officials who were bullied by men's players into moving the final because of rain and put a women's semifinal on a small court sat silent as Serena humiliated Asderaki. They said later that they'll review the incident. Just in time.
For an instant it looked like Serena would be invigorated by the incident. Stosur broke soon after and went to win 6-2, 6-3 in a stunning upset.
Serena was gracious as she greeted Stosur at the net following the loss and didn't dwell on the incident in post-match interviews. She didn't look up at Asderaski as she brushed past the chair without shaking the umpire's hand.
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