She Did It Again: Serena Williams Blows Up in U.S. Open Loss

Oh no, she did it again.

Mt. Serena erupted once more in defeat Sunday at the U.S. Open. This time it happened in the tournament final after chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that Serena’s loud “come on!,” which she yelled during what she thought was a forehand winner, had been shrieked before the point was over. Since it interrupted opponent Sam Stosur’s attempt at a return, Asderaki properly awarded Stosur the point because of the “hindrance rule” that states a player can’t verbally interfere with the opponent’s points.

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Serena was understandably displeased, though she had no ground on which to stand. The call was obvious. Serena disagreed and became more incensed when she thought that the umpire, Asderaki, was the same official who was in the chair for her infamous 2009 blowup at the tournament. It wasn’t.

“Aren’t you the one who screwed me over last time here?” Serena asked after being told of the point penalty. “Yeah, you are.” {snip}

{snip} Stosur looked momentarily stunned. Serena went on to break Stosur to even the match and continued her diatribe against the umpire during the next two changeovers.

“A code violation because I expressed who I am? We’re in America last I checked. Am I gonna 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.”

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The same impotent U.S. Open officials who were bullied by men’s players into moving the final because of rain and put a women’s semifinal on a small court sat silent as Serena humiliated Asderaki. {snip}

For an instant it looked like Serena would be invigorated by the incident. Stosur broke soon after and went to win 6-2, 6-3 in a stunning upset.

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