The American star had lost the first set 6-2 to the Australian and faced a break point in the opening game of the second when she unleashed a huge forehand which she greeted it with a loud ‘come on’.
But Stosur had not even reached the ball and Greek umpire Eva Asderaki immediately penalised the three-time champion for ‘intentional hindrance’.
The point - and the game - was awarded to Stosur. “Aren’t you the one who screwed me over last time?” Williams, who was eventually defeated 6-2, 6-3, bellowed at Asderaki, in an apparent reference to a similar incident in Doha in 2009.
At her post-match news conference, the 29-year-old flatly refused to apologise for her outburst which came two years after she was also docked a penalty point in her semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters for abusing a lineswoman.
“I regret losing,” said Williams. “I don’t remember what I said. It was just so intense. It’s the final and I guess I’ll see it on YouTube. I was just in the zone.”
Stosur shrugs off controversy
The 27-year-old Stosur, who kept her composure to see off home favourite and win her first Grand Slam title, shrugged off the incident.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” said Stosur. “I was just there. I know about the rule but I’ve never had to deal with it before,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2011.
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