indiana wrote:

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Sam Stosur beats Serena  6 - 2   6 - 3  to take the title !

This year's victim of the Serena unladylike tirade was the umpire, who bravely called a point aganst her when she was breakpoint down in the first game of the second set.  Apparently from what I have read, quite correctly too, Serena shouted "C'mon" when it looked like she had hit a winner, but before the point was dead, and the umpire gave the pont and the break to Sam.

Serena broke back during the bedlam that was around for the next few games with the crowd getting behind Serena. I then started watching from Sam serving at 2 - 3 and she was very impressive for the rest of that set, winning the last 4 games with no sign of the nerves that have afflicted her in the past, and even though Serena saved the first 2 match points with good play.

To be fair, Serena seemed troubled by her foot, but Sam played very well, particularly really whacking an insideout forehand.

Think we may hear rather more about Serena's choice of words to the umpire, and she's just out of a 2 year probation period since her 2009 suggestions to the linejudge as to where she'd like to put a tennis ball.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 11th of September 2011 10:41:13 PM

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 I watched the whole final and have to say Stosur was very impressive, particularly how she held herself together amid the storm that followed Serena's 'Come On' during the point. A very brave call by the umpire and in my opinion a correct call as shouting during the point is just disrespectful to the opponent.

I suppose it could also open a wider debate on the hinderence rule. For example, I'm sure Sharspova's 'shrieks' got louder and louder against Heather as she got into a difficult match situation. Could that be regarded as hinderance to your opponent? (Actually, I'm not someone who gets annoyed by the shrieking/grunting by players, but if it's used to intimidate rather than part of the shot making process then it isn't fair).

Having seen the point,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px03E5NnPSU

...the simple fact that Sam could and did get a touch to the ball is enough that she must get the point.   Yes, even without the "C'mon !"  it was very unlilkely she was going to get the ball back.  But in such situations when a ball can be touched, the umpire can't be left to make a judgement call as to what the player might be able to do with the ball.

Whatever, the way Serena talked to the umpire at the changeover at  2 - 1  was appalling, and according to some folk I have read, she is not in fact out of her probabation period.  Though she should be penalised pretty heavily whether she is or not.

It's such a pity because I like having Serena around, but sorry, madam, if you are going to behave like that, then she has to be very significantly penalised.  Maybe a ban from next year's US Open would be appropriate given her last two appearances there.

philwrig wrote:

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To defend Serena a little bit, the rule stipulates that the player must deliberately hinder her opponent with the come on, which I'm not sure she did, still obviously her reaction was indefensible. To her credit though she was very gracious at the presentation ceremony.

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Yes, I'd heard that.  Does create a slight problem, and I'd agree Serena certainly did not appear to me to be trying to deliberately hinder Sam, she just got a bit carried away ( later on she should have been carried away ! ). To me, better off without the "deliberately" in there.

I am pretty sure football had a change in rules some time ago to take the word "deliberately" out of some of its rules,  since beforehand theoretically I think it wasn't a foul if you just say "innocently" mistimed a tackle.  But in practice, of course, fouls were given, and the rules were finally sensibly amended.

Anyway $2,000 fine for Serena, that'll teach her 

Thng is though if they were just going to fine here, that's probably fairly in line with precedence for other folks' outbursts, fines just haven't moved with the times.  OK, it would take a hell of a lot to effect the top players, but still....