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Serena Williams lost her game, lost her cool with a chair umpire and lost the women’s final at the U.S. Open yesterday in a shocking upset. And now she’s in trouble again with the USTA for her disrespectful behavior.
Williams’ storybook Open ended without her being crowned champion on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Instead, she played the role of the ugly American for the second straight time she has played at Flushing Meadows on the way to a straight-set loss to Samantha Stosur of Australia.
Controversy can’t escape the Williams family, and the loss featured another strange infraction, another verbal altercation with an on-court official and perhaps more USTA sanctions.
The lethargic Williams was pitiful, spraying shots all over Arthur Ashe Stadium before having a key point taken away by chair umpire Eva Asderaki of Greece for “verbal interference.”
An angered Williams picked up a code violation for “verbal abuse” of the chair umpire during which she said, “Aren’t you the one who screwed me last time? Do you have it out for me? That’s totally not cool.”
During the changeover, Williams continued her harangue from her seat, rambling, “You’re out of control. You’re a hater. We’re in America last time I checked. Don’t look my way. You’re unattractive inside. You’re out of control, out of control.”
Williams’ boorishness overshadowed the brilliant performance of Stosur, the ninth-seeded Aussie who crushed Williams’ serves and played flawless tennis on the way to winning her first Slam title, 6-2, 6-3. She became the first Australian woman to win the U.S. Open since Margaret Court in 1973.
“I don’t think she’s ever played that well,” Williams said.
The incident revived memories of Williams’ disqualification in the 2009 Open semifinals, when she directed a profane tirade toward a lineswoman for calling a foot fault. Williams was fined a record $82,500 and put on a two-year probation scheduled to end after this tournament.
The USTA announced last night tournament referee Brian Earley is reviewing the incident on tape and Williams’ Grand Slam probation could be affected beyond a fine. A decision will be rendered today.
Stosur, 27, advanced to a Grand Slam final just once before, the 2010 French Open. Williams vied for her fourth Open and 14th Slam title, which is maybe why she lost her composure.
In the first game of the second set, faced with a break point, Williams let out a scream of “C’mon!” after smashing a shot into the open court. Stosur flailed at it with her backhand, hitting it off the frame.
Stosur had no chance for the ball, but Williams’ shout occurred while Stosur was lunging to make a play. Asderaki awarded Stosur the point and game, giving the Aussie an early break after she romped in the first set.
The Ashe Stadium crowd booed lustily at the call and Williams was livid, approaching the umpire — according to a USTA official, it was not the same umpire from 2009.
The umpire, under ITF bylaws, had the option of replaying the point if she did not think Williams’ scream was intentional.
Afterward, Williams said she could not remember what she said to the umpire. That lack of apology or regret angered the USTA.
Defending herself, Williams said, “We athletes give 2,000 percent.”
She said she was not trying to hurt her opponent’s concentration but said the infraction didn’t cost her the match.
“I thought it was a winner but she did great just to put her racket on it,” Williams said.
Why did she scream?
“It was a good shot and the only good shot I think I hit,” she cracked.
In the next game, Williams hit an early winner and looked at the umpire and made a comment, picking up a warning.
Williams did not shake the umpire’s hand after the match, and the incident marred her great run following recovery from a blood clot in her lungs in March.
Williams put in just 35 percent of her first serves in the first set. Because of the rearranged schedule and the long men’s semifinals, she took the court for the women’s semis at 10:10 p.m. Saturday, did not finish until 11:35 p.m. and got to bed at 4:30 a.m.
“I was more tired than I expected,” she said. “I don’t want to make excuses. I want to give Samantha all the credit. I should’ve been lighter on my toes.”
Williams was energized by the crowd after her infraction, as she immediately broke Stosur. The crowd was moving to her side after beginning the match pulling for the underdog from Down Under.
“I tried to get more fired up and just get more Serena-esque,” Williams said.
Stosur closed out the first set by winning 12 straight points and closed the match with two spectacular service-return winners. Stosur ran to her players box, crying. The Williams family box looked stunned, not even applauding.
“I’m speechless,” Stosur said. “I can’t actually believe I won this tournament.”
The trophy ceremony featured 15 American flags and one Australian flag. Clearly, the ceremony organizers expected a different outcome.