by Wilfred Okiche

Australian Samantha Stosur defeated American and former world number one Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the 2011 U.S Open yesterday, September 11, to earn her first grand slam title. She becomes the first Australian woman to win a major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980. Visibly excited, she said “I can’t actually believe I won this tournament; to go out there and play the way I did is just an unbelievable feeling.”

Her win was overshadowed though by another outburst from Serena Williams. The second in three years, Williams was upset at being given a one point penalty after shouting “come on” when she hit what she thought was a clear winner but which Stosur managed to return.

Her anger was redirected at Chair umpire Eva Asderaki as she scolded  “if you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you’re out of control. You’re a hater and unattractive inside.”

Recall that Serena was fined $75000 in her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters at the U.S Open in 2009 for a similar offence.

She continued her tirade against Asderaki:  “aren’t you the one who screwed me over last time here? I promise you that is not cool.” At the end of the match she gave Stosur a congratulatory hug but refused to shake the umpire’s hand.

At the post match press conference, Ms Williams claimed not to remember what she had said, claiming that “it was just so intense out there.”

The U.S Tennis Association is currently reviewing the incident.

Oluwapelumi