SERENA WILLIAMS refused to apologise for her tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki during her 6-2 6-3 defeat by Samantha Stosur in the final of the US Open.
The 13-time grand slam champion had been the clear favourite going into the clash but was blown away by Stosur in the first set and was struggling to hold serve in the second when the controversy began.
Having saved one break point with an ace, Williams crunched a forehand on the second and let out a huge cry of ‘come on’ – but before Stosur had touched the ball.
Under grand slam rules, a deliberate hindrance, such as an intentional shout during a point, sees the perpetrator lose the point, and that was the action the umpire took.
A furious Williams harangued Asderaki and then continued to insult the official at the next change of ends, calling her “out of control”, a “hater” and “unattractive inside”.
The American, who did not shake Asderaki’s hand after the match, was unwilling to discuss the incident, saying only: “I don’t even remember what I said.
“It was just so intense out there. It’s the final for me. I guess I’ll see it on YouTube. I don’t know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone when they play kind of ‘zones out’.”
Asked for her opinions on the duty of athletes to treat officials with respect, Williams also side-stepped the question.
“We live for these moments,” she said. “Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I’ll be back for them.”
