[wonderbang]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

That last point between Serena and Kim was UNBELIEVABLE!

I can't believe Serena was disqualified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*shocked*

[hoistdacolors]

It's that considered a win? I thought it goes down as a default.

[wonderbang]

Well it's probably just a technicality........the score is being reported as 6-3 7-5 for Kim.

Either way, Kim looked like she was going to win. It's just terribly, horribly unfortunate to see an ending like this.

Kim was in total shock in the on court interview afterwards.

[hoistdacolors]

so it was a point penalty. the score was 15-40 and that point violation gave Clijster the win.

congratz Kim. Go get that title.

[souslesun]

I was so confused! I didn't even realize that it was a foot fault until afterwards. I don't get foot faults. Is it when you're serving and your foot goes past the line that it's a foot fault? Because from the replay it didn't look like that to me...! And then Serena cursed off/threated the lines judge so she was disqualified eventually right?

This reminds me of Marat Safin actually... HAHA XD I think it was AO this year? Where a lines judge called him out on a foot fault and Safin retaliated by saying, "You only called a foot fault so you can get on TV!"

Sigh... I'm so happy that Kim got through but I feel like this kind of win wasn't something we all wanted, you know? Serena's 2nd serves... wow, I was surprised at how badly she was doing in that aspect of her game today! But hooray once again for Kim!

It's looking like a Kim-Caroline final! KIMMIE FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wonderbang]

Official explanation by the tournament referee:

Serena was given her first code violation by breaking her racket at the end of the first set. Per the rules, a second code violation means the player loses a point. On match point, Serena was given a second code violation for "unsportsmanlike conduct" through her berating of the foot fault lineswoman. This resulted in her losing the match.

A replay of the serve cannot confirm Serena's foot fault but her behavior afterward was deemed punishable by the umpire and the tournament referee.


EDIT

A foot fault is when your foot touches any part of the line before you hit the serve. In the replay, you can see Serena lifting her left foot and putting it back down before jumping and serving. Like I said earlier, the replay is inconclusive on whether she actually committed the fault. However, she clearly directed profanity and verbal abuse at the lineswoman.


Again, incredibly sad ending that could have been prevented.

[hoistdacolors]

it was pretty bad. the first time she went over to the linesperson, the chair umpire didn't see it. if serena kept playing the game, nothing would've happened. but serena went back to abuse the linesperson again and this time, the chair umpire saw it.

This reminds me of Marat Safin actually... HAHA XD I think it was AO this year? Where a lines judge called him out on a foot fault and Safin retaliated by saying, "You only called a foot fault so you can get on TV!"

I think it also happened last year either in Cincy or Toronto too. He was getting foot faulted on second serve quiet a few times and he told the umpire "you can't call foot fault on second serves". I have to agree on Marat. the North American linespeople should be more lenient. European let a lot of these close calls go.

[wonderbang]

I just think that it's a complete shame that a match that was competitive and a semifinal of the US Open would end in such a way.

Anyhow, I think Serena has a lot of courage to actually GO to her press conference right after what just happened. She looked incredibly agitated but she kept her composure and answered (relatively) calm. Like she said, she just got too caught up in the moment.

[ShukakuOTS]

That was REALLY ugly the way the match ended.

You could tell Clijsters was disappointed.

We all lose our temper...but...danggg...lol

Respect was lost, I admit, though I can't say I had too much to begin with...

[wonderbang]

Because of the whole debacle, most people forgot there was another women's semis going on right next door. Congrats to Wozniacki for making her first GS final. The Woz played pretty well to stop her fellow teenager and prevent an all Belgian final.

[dOotsiez]

Hey guys, I put up the video of match point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B8TAr5OZJQ

I'm biased cos I like Serena, but there was NO foot fault. Given that it was 5-6 15-30, the lines woman SHOULD NOT have called the double given the TINY margin for error she left herself with there.

Sad ending to a great match

[Unanimous]

I think Serena Williams deserved to lose that point. It was unfortunate the point happened to be match point.
I think this wouldn`t be a big deal if it wasn't match point, but because it is people are talking.
Horrible sportsmanship, Serena could have handled her temper better.

Can`t wait for tomorrow! Rooting for another Nadal vx. Federer final! But can`t deny Djokovic is so cute!

[symphonee.]

^
^ Thanks for the vid!

whoa. okay. i stopped watching the match after awhile and continued doing my work but I was following the score via IBM slamtracker so I didn't get to see this. I was wondering why at 15-40 (match point) slamtracker was taking forever to change the score (and i didn't think they could be rallying for that long). Now I understand what happened.

That's such a terrible way to end the match. Though for me, I think Kim would've taken Serena out regardless of the foot fault incident. Kim's looking disappointed.

[Simplexity.]

What an unfortunate way to end the match. Seems to kinda take away from Kim's victory >_<.

Regardless of whether it was indeed an actual footfault or not, the lineswoman was simply trying to do her job. I understand that it was at a crucial moment in the match but still, Serena could have handled the situation better. Though she did handle the press conference afterwards quite well. But overall, it was still a great match with great shots from both players.

Anyways, congratz to Kim! I wish her good luck in the finals!

And I can't wait to watch Federer play Djokovic, should be a good match.

[loveprint]

Whooooa man, I missed a lot.
Gosh, that's.. such a bad way to end a match. And especially such an important one like this.

But damn, Clijsters. Un-freaking-stoppable.

[wonderbang]

Given that it was 5-6 15-30, the lines woman SHOULD NOT have called the double given the TINY margin for error she left herself with there.

I completely agree with this sentiment. Not to defend Serena because she had no right to abuse an official like that, but given the circumstances, the lineswoman made an absolutely horrendous judgment call.

[Aziraphale]

Happy for Kim that she won and is in the final, but sad that the match had to end this way. I just watched the video dOotsiez provided and agree it wasn't a foot fault. I don't know how the lineswoman could have made that call. But Serena could have handled her temper better too. She needed to keep her cool but she couldn't and she shouldn't have gone for the lineswoman the way she did. But it was just a horrible way to end the match and Kim looked so disappointed, she clearly didn't want to win this way.

[432521]

Man I was watching the match, and I was super pissed because Serena didn't do a foot fault. I mean I knew she was gonna lose, but still. That lines women was like staring at her foot or something and saw something that wasn't there. And I was also mad because it took away from Kim C's victory, cause dam she deserves all the praise in the world, retiring 2 years ago to take care of her baby and then coming back and taking out both williams sisters, dang she is good

[endlessrain]

Respect was lost, I admit, though I can't say I had too much to begin with...

Forreals.
What an ugly ending. Congrats to Kim C though, good for her.

Mens semifinals yes cant waittt

[wonderbang]

Well the aftermath of the situation is looking grim. After the press conference, Serena met with the tournament referee and was told that she would have to explain her words and actions in front of the International Tennis Federation and Grand Slam Committee. The result would likely be a heavy fine for Serena. Many suspect that she's considered "lucky" because she could have been given a ban from future tour events (which personally I think is way too drastic).