By Alberto Amalfi

(September 12, 2011) Clearly Serena Williams lost her temper and hindered play last night at the US Open Women’s final but I had to ask how does this differ from the four-letter words blasted during a match, yells directed at the umpires, or the high-pitch screams after each shot?

She screamed “C’mon” before the game had finished that put off her opponent Samantha Stosur that appeared intentional and chair umpire Eva Asderaki called her on it according to the hinderance rule. After that, she was accused of a code violation for verbal abuse after she had a rant at the umpire.


Some have said that Williams was celebrating her good shot and it is hard to determine her intent.

In her press conference, she said, "I think everyone is so intense out there. I was really intense, and everyone just wants to do great. I know I did."

She denied hindering her opponent, "No. I mean, I didn't, but I can't even you know, I think my opponent played really well. I actually thought it was a winner, but she did really good to even put her like racquet on it. I thought it was a clear winner. I thought it was the hat drop rule, where if you drop a hat you kind of replay the point. I don't know. I think for the most part it was just I don't know, I tried my best. As always, I gave my 100%."

It seems that Williams may be experiencing a little more scrutinizing after the 2009 incident with the lineswoman in which the America’s top woman in tennis threatened her. Has she made herself an easy target?

Everyday on court, we see player throw around swear words or bully the officials. In fact we saw John McEnroe iconize himself with it, but that does not really hinder play. This should be considered a code violation for verbal abuse but several players have been known to swear at or around officials and other players without being fined.

What does hinder play is the loud screeching of players like Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova. The two have put players off in the past but have never received fines or punishments for it.

Where is the line drawn? The screeches are not verbalized words but they are certainly distracting to the players and audience alike.

Should it all be to the chair umpire’s discretion about when the rules apply or not?

I'm not advocating her behavior but I think there needs to be a little perspective.

It’s curious but we all know now that Serena Williams is without $2000 and receiving a lot of harsh criticism.

Check out an opinion on the other side.