By James Waterson Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/Corleve
(September 12, 2011) Serena Williams has been fined $2,000 by the USTA for her outburst at chair umpire Eva Asderaki during the US Open women’s final against Samantha Stosur Sunday.
In the first game of the second set and facing a break point, Williams struck a strong forehand she thought was a winner and yelled “c’mon” before Stosur hit the ball.
Asderaki gave the point and the game to Stosur because of the ITF’s hindrance rule, which reads:
“If a player is hindered in playing the point by a deliberate act of the opponent(s), the player shall win the point. However, the point shall be replayed if a player is hindered in playing the point by either an unintentional act of the opponent(s), or something outside the player’s own control (not including a permanent fixture).”
After the match, the American said she didn’t deliberately hinder Stosur.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Yet during the change of ends when Williams was leading 2-1, she said to Asderaki “A code violation because I expressed who I am? We're in America last I checked. Am I going to 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,” she added.
The incident lead to Asderaki issuing a code violation for verbal abuse.
After the match, the USTA released a statement that indicated Brian Earley, US Open tournament referee, was going to review the tapes to determine whether the code violation warranted a fine.
Because Williams is still on probation for her outburst in her semifinal match at the 2009 US Open, the ruling could have seen her suspended from other Grand Slam events or fined.
She could only have been suspended from other Grand Slams if the incident was judged to be a major offense.
On Monday, the USTA said the outburst was not a major offense and set the fine at $2,000, which it said is consistent with other similar offense at Grand Slam events.
“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,” a USTA statement read.
Because Williams won the US Open Series, she received $1.4 million in prize money for making the final.
The USTA said the $2,000 fine will be provided to the Grand Slam Development Fund, which develops tennis programs around the world.
According to the Grand Slam Rulebook, the maximum fine for a single count of verbal abuse is $20,000.