Given that she was already on “behavior probation” relative to an outburst in 2009, the fine could have and arguably should have been heftier.
Bottom line…it was a classless display. Do better Serena. This wasn’t a heat of the battle, singular remark, it was an ongoing rant, even from her chair; not befitting a future Hall of Famer.
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NEW YORK — Serena Williams was fined $2,000 by the U.S. Open on Monday for berating the chair umpire during the women’s singles championship match.
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 Samantha Stosurat 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.
Full Story HERE.
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