Serena Williams avoided a hefty fine for her outburst during Sunday’s U.S. Open championship unlike the  one that was levied on her two years ago for a profanity-laced tirade aimed at a line official at this same event.
 
Williams again did not agree with some of the calls made during her 6-2, 6-3 loss to Samantha Stosur and she was fined $2,000 by U.S. Open Tournament referee Brian Earley on Monday for violating the code for verbal abuse. In 2009, Williams was immediately fined $10,000 for her meltdown and then received a record $82,500 fine from the Grand Slam Committee director.
 
Williams was also placed on a “probationary period” at Grand Slam events in 2010 and 2011 with the threat of the fine being doubled for a similar action, which had many believing the penalty might be much steeper this time.
Williams’ reputation as being difficult to deal with may have grown a little more Sunday. But her behavior also seems consistent with many other players in professional sports over the years.
 
“After independently reviewing the incident which served as the basis for the code
violation, and taking into account the level of fine imposed by the U.S. Open referee,” a released statement read, “the Grand Slam Committee director has determined that Ms. Williams’ conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct.”
 
The $2,000 fine will go to the Grand Slam Develospment Fund, which supports tennis programs around the world.
 
Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: AP Photo/Matt Slocum)