By Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Already being 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.
Thatís exactly what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than ó but reminiscent of ó the Americanís 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.
ěIím still kind of speechless. I canít actually believe I won this tournament,î Stosur said. ěI guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously just an unbelievable feeling, and you always hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it, is unbelievable.î
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 championship since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.
Only 2-9 in tournament finals before beating Williams, Stosur made the U.S. Open the third consecutive Grand Slam tournament with a first-time womenís major champion, after Li Na at the French Open, and Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon.
ěShe played really, really well. I mean, I donít think sheís ever played that well,î Williams said. ěMaybe she has; I havenít seen her play that well.î
This was only the 27-year-old Stosurís third title at any tour-level event, and what a way to do it. She took advantage of Williamsí so-so serving and stayed steady throughout ó finishing with 12 unforced errors to Williamsí 25 ó despite the bizarre events that unfolded in the second set.
Indeed, the biggest victory of Stosurís career so far likely will be recalled by everyone else for Williamsí 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, ěCome on!î as Stosur reached down for a backhand. Chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that Williams hindered Stosurís ability to complete the point and awarded it to Stosur ó putting her ahead 1-0 in that set.
Williams went over to talk to Asderaki, saying, ěIím not giving her that game.î
Williams also said: ěI promise you, thatís not cool. Thatís totally not cool.î
Fans got loud, delaying the start of the next game.