Serena Williams Fined $2,000 for U.S. Open 'Hater' Comments

How much does it cost to tell the umpire off during the U.S. Open? For Serena Williams fans, it’s priceless. For the athlete herself? $2,000.

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According to the AP, U.S. Open tournament referee Brian Earley ruled Monday that Williams will be fined $2,000 for a verbal abuse code violation for comments made to a chair umpire on Sunday.

On the up side, the USTA Grand Slam committee director Bill Babcock ruled that “Williams’ conduct… does not rise to the level of a major offense.” That’s good news for the athlete as she is under probation for an outburst made at the 2009 U.S. Open.

Williams was fined for comments she made during her match with Sam Stosur on Sunday. The tension escalated when chair umpire Eva Asderaki called an “intentional hindrance” violation on Williams in the first game. Williams yelled, “Come on!” in objection.

Later, she asked the umpire if she was the same official who gave her the 2009 penalty that led to her probation.

Williams then lost it later, saying among other things that, “If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way, because you're out of control... You're totally out of control, you're a hater, and you're unattractive inside.”

Williams lost the match to Stosur in straight sets. In total, Williams earned $1.4 million for competing in this year’s tournament (minus the $2,000 fine, of course).

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro