Serena Williams Fined Record $82,500 For U.S. Open Tirade

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” at any Grand Slam in the next two years. Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock said that Ms. Williams faces a “probationary period” at tennis’ four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another “major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.

Mr. Babcock said that the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense was about $48,000 to Jeff Tarango in the 1990s.

Ms. Williams lashed out at a lineswoman after a foot-fault call at the end of her semifinal loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. Her profanity-laced, finger-pointing outburst drew a $10,000 fine from the U.S. Tennis Association in September — the maximum onsite penalty a tennis player can face. But because it happened at a Grand Slam tournament, Mr. Babcock was charged with investigating whether further punishment was merited. He concluded that Ms. Williams violated the “major offense” rule for “aggravated behavior.” The Grand Slam committee — with one representative from each of the sport’s four major championships — approved his decision on Saturday.