Serena Williams Loses Point at U.S. Open Women’s Final For Talking

Looks like you can moan and groan all you want on the tennis court, you just can't use actual words.

By Jorge Rivas Sep 12, 2011

Serena Williams learned the hard way yesterday that you can moan and groan all you want on the tennis court, you just can’t actually articulate any words. At the US Open Women’s Finals Sunday, Serena Williams yelled "come on!" as she hit the ball to her opponent, Samantha Stosur, and lost a point as a result.

The New York Times explains why Williams lost a point:

But Stosur stuck out her racket and got a piece of the ball, and when she made contact, it brought into play the hindrance rule.

The Ashe scoreboard initially flashed 40-40. Asderaki was slow to inform the crowd that the point and the game had gone to Stosur because Williams had verbally hindered her opponent’s ability to complete the point.

The confusion whipped the crowd into a frenzy, the boos and catcalls becoming so voracious that Stosur waited to deliver her first serve of the second game until the noise died down. She bounced a ball on her racket while a defiant Williams stood on the baseline, her left hand on her hip.

The announcers narrating the show called it bad form but still, they questioned whether Williams should be fined a point. Williams also had questions and complaints that she took directly to chair umpire Eva Asderaki:

If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way, because you’re out of control. You’re out of control. You’re totally out of control, you’re a hater, and you’re unattractive inside. Who would do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow. What a loser… We’re in America last I checked. Can I get a water, or am I gonna get violated for a water? Really, don’t even look at me! I promise you, don’t look at me, ’cause I am not the one. Don’t look my way.

Williams’ actually played better after the bad call, but not good enough and Stosur captured the title.

This is the second time Williams has been criticized for an outburst on the court.