Just $2000 for disturbing US Open serenity

14 September 2011 - 03:03 By Sports staff
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Serena Williams argues with the umpire during her match against Samantha Stosur of Australia in the final at the US Open in New York on Sunday Picture: JESSICA RINALDI/REUTERS
Serena Williams argues with the umpire during her match against Samantha Stosur of Australia in the final at the US Open in New York on Sunday Picture: JESSICA RINALDI/REUTERS

Serena Williams won $900000 as the beaten finalist in the US Open women's singles.

From that she had to fork out just $2000 as a fine for her rant against the umpire in the final against Samantha Stosur.

Tournament referee Brian Earley said the punishment was "consistent with similar offences at grand slam events".

The grand slam committee director, Bill Babcock, said her conduct, "while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offence under the grand slam code of conduct".

The "slap on the wrist" (according to TV analyst Chris Evert) meant that Williams did not face additional punishment because she is still under probation following a similar confrontation during the US Open in 2009. Three years ago her tirade against a line judge during a semifinal loss to Kim Clijisters cost her an $82500 fine.

Williams has not apologised to umpire Eva Askeraki, whose hand she refused to shake after Sunday's final.

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