No argument: Stosur bests Serena

Associated Press

new york

Already outplayed by Sam Stosur in the U.S. Open final, the last thing Serena Williams needed was to lose a game for yelling during a point.

That’s exactly what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than — but reminiscent of — the American’s tirade two years ago at the same tournament. In the end, Stosur beat Williams 6-2, 6-3 Sunday in a surprisingly lopsided upset for her first Grand Slam title.

“I think I had one of my best days,” Stosur said. “I’m very fortunate to do it on this stage.”

Hitting powerful strokes from the baseline, and looking fresher than the far-more-accomplished Williams right from the start, the ninth-seeded Stosur became the first Australian woman to win a major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.

“She played really, really well. She’s a great player, and it’s good to see,” Williams said. “I tried my hardest and she kept hitting winners and I was, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing?”’

This was only the 27-year-old Stosur’s third title at any tour-level event. She took advantage of Williams’ so-so serving and stayed steady throughout — finishing with 12 unforced errors to Williams’ 25.

Indeed, the biggest victory of Stosur’s career so far likely will be recalled by everyone for Williams’ latest dispute with an official at Flushing Meadows.

Down a set and facing a break point in the first game of the second, the 13-time major champion hit a forehand and shouted, “Come on!” as Stosur reached down for a backhand. Chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that Williams hindered Stosur’s ability to complete the point and awarded it to Stosur — putting her ahead 1-0 in that set.

Williams went over to Asderaki, saying, “I’m not giving her that game.”

Williams also said: “I promise you, that’s not cool. That’s totally not cool.”

Some fans began booing, delaying the start of the next game as both players waited for the commotion to subside.

Tournament director Brian Earley said the ruling was proper.

In the 2009 semifinals against Kim Clijsters, Williams was called for a foot-fault that set her off on a profanity-laced outburst at a line judge. Williams lost a point there, and because it came on match point, Clijsters won. That led to an immediate $10,000 fine from the U.S. Tennis Association and later a record $82,500 fine from the Grand Slam administrator, who also put Williams on a “probationary period” at Grand Slam tournaments in 2010 and 2011.

MEN’S FINAL

When Novak Djokovic faced Rafael Nadal in the 2010 U.S. Open final, the guy everyone calls “Rafa” solidified his standing atop the tennis world by earning third Grand Slam title of the season.

Now it’s “Nole” who gets a chance to add to his own remarkable run: A victory over Nadal in today’s title match would make Djokovic 64-2 in 2011 with 10 titles, including three at majors.

It also would make Djokovic 6-0 against Nadal this season.

Oh, how their rivalry has changed in the short span of 12 months.

“Well, it’s obvious that this is the best year of my career, by far. The confidence level that is very high at this moment for me helps me ... go for the shots that I maybe in some situations wouldn’t; that I wasn’t going for ... in the past couple years,” Djokovic said.