Serena Williams US Open 2009

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Serena Williams US Open 2009, The American was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by the Belgian in a match that finished in controversy when she was given a point penalty at match point down after turning on a lineswoman.

The title-holder and tournament favourite was 6-4, 6-5 and 15-30 down when the sanction was called against her on her second serve, setting up match point for Clijsters.


Gesturing at her with her racket outstretched, Williams - who had earlier been given a code violation for racquet abuse - hurled a volley of abuse towards her, resulting in the point penalty and the loss of the match.

The lineswoman then ran up to umpire Louise Engzell to report the incident which brought tournament referee Brian Earley on to the court.

It was never confirmed what Williams had said to the lineswoman, but the on-court microphones picked up her saying to the official in an argument: "I never said I would kill you, are you serious?"

After discussing the situation with the player, linesperson and chair umpire, Williams was handed a second code violation, the resultant point penalty handing victory to a bemused Clijsters, 6-4 7-5.

Williams went around the net to shake hands with Clijsters before waving to the crowd on her way down the tunnel.

Clijsters was left looking stunned as she sat on her chair contemplating the bizarre manner of her victory.

It was the Belgian, 26, who edged a terrific contest for the best part of two sets, breaking serve in game 10 to clinch the first set and recovering an early break in the second.

Williams had appeared edgy and uncomfortable throughout a match that had originally been scheduled for Friday afternoon but had been repeatedly delayed because of rain that swept in over the New York area from late Thursday and wiped out all play on Friday and most of Saturday.

And with Clijsters closing in on a sensational victory, the pressure told on Williams.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Williams, the defending champion, felt she had nothing to apologise for.

"I don't think that's necessary for me to speak about that. I've let it go," Williams said. "I didn't threaten (her). I didn't say...I don't remember anymore, to be honest. I was in the moment. And, you know, everyone's fighting for every point. It was a really crucial point, 15-30, actually."

Despite her unwillingness to offer an apology, when asked if she thought the lineswoman in question deserved one, Williams added: "An apology? From me? Well, how many people yell at lines people?" Williams said.

"If you look at all the people that kind of yell at lines people, I think it kind of comes sometimes. Players, athletes get frustrated. I don't know how many times I've seen that happen."

Television replays were inconclusive as to whether the foot-fault call was correct but Williams said she would be surprised if she had touched the line.

"All year, I've never been foot-faulted and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults," she said. "I haven't been called for a foot fault all year until I got to New York, so maybe when I come to this tournament I have to step two feet back."

The tournament referee, Brain Earley, later confirmed that Williams' sanction had been a point penalty rather than a default. "It was not a default, it was a point penalty that happened to be given on match point,"

Earley said. "There was an earlier warning for racket abuse and she was called for a foot fault and she said something to a line umpire and it was reported to the chair and then resulted in a point penalty. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct."

The controversy should not take away from Clijsters' achievement at making the final, back from a two-year retirement. The way that she was playing, the Belgian would probably have beaten the defending champion anyway.

Two years after she played her last grand slam, Clijsters now just has to beat Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki to become the first mother to win a grand slam title for 29 years, since Australian Evonne Goolagong was the Wimbledon champion in 1980.