Serena Williams refused to apologise for her tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki during her defeat in the final of the US Open.
American refuses to back down after furious argument with umpire
Serena Williams refused to apologise for her tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki during her 6-2 6-3 defeat by Samantha Stosur in the final of the US Open.
The 13-time grand slam champion had been the clear favourite going into the clash but was blown away by Stosur in the first set and was struggling to hold serve in the second when the controversy began.
Having saved one break point with an ace, Williams crunched a forehand on the second and let out a huge cry of 'come on' - but before Stosur had touched the ball.
Under grand slam rules, a deliberate hindrance, such as an intentional shout during a point, sees the perpetrator lose the point, and that was the action the umpire took.
A furious Williams harangued Asderaki and then continued to insult the official at the next change of ends, calling her "out of control", a "hater" and "unattractive inside".
The American, who did not shake Asderaki's hand after the match, was unwilling to discuss the incident, saying only: "I don't even remember what I said.
"It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me. I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I don't know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone when they play kind of 'zones out'."
Asked for her opinions on the duty of athletes to treat officials with respect, Williams also side-stepped the question.
"We live for these moments," she said. "Everyone lives to be in the final of Wimbledon or the final at the US Open.
"Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back for them."
Controversy
Initially the controversy looked like it had worked in Williams' favour, with the crowd, clearly feeling their player had been wronged, helping her raise her intensity and she won two games in a row.
The concern for Stosur was her thus far impeccable concentration would be broken but she refocused and set about punishing her opponent with huge forehands.
From 3-2 down, the Australian reeled off four games in a row, taking her third match point with a stunning forehand return.
Williams felt the incident had not affected the outcome of the match, saying: "I don't think it had a big impact, because I think at the end she won pretty handily. Maybe it would have been 6-4. I don't know.
"I give her all the credit because she really played phenomenal and she deserved to be the US Open champion this year."
The three-time champion was playing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since another controversy in the semi-finals two years ago when she was given a point penalty for abusing a lineswoman that condemned her to defeat against Kim Clijsters.
Williams admitted she may have confused the two umpires - it was Louise Engzell who was in the chair for the Clijsters match - after saying to Asderaki: "Aren't you the one that screwed me over last time?"
The 29-year-old received a hefty fine and a suspended ban for the first incident that covered this tournament but it is not believed she will fall foul of that for her behaviour this time.
However, she could find herself penalised financially, and the United States Tennis Association said in a statement: "Serena Williams was issued a code violation for verbal abuse by Chair Umpire Eva Asderaki at the conclusion of the first game of the second set during the US Open women's singles final vs Samantha Stosur.
