Tennis: Serena Williams refused to apologise for her tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki during her 6-2 6-3 defeat by Samantha Stosur in the final of the US Open on Sunday night.
The 13-time grand slam champion had been the clear favourite going into the clash but was blown away by Stosur in the first set and was struggling to hold serve in the second when the controversy began.
Having saved one break point with an ace, Williams crunched a forehand on the second and let out a huge cry of 'come on' - but before Stosur had touched the ball. Under grand slam rules, a deliberate hindrance, such as an intentional shout during a point, sees the perpetrator lose the point, and that was the action the umpire took.
A furious Williams harangued Asderaki and then continued to insult the official at the next change of ends, calling her "out of control", a "hater" and "unattractive inside".
The American, who did not shake Asderaki's hand after the match, was unwilling to discuss the incident, saying only: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me. I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I don't know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone when they play kind of 'zones out'."
Asked for her opinions on the duty of athletes to treat officials with respect, Williams also side-stepped the question.
"We live for these moments," she said. "Everyone lives to be in the final of Wimbledon or the final at the US Open. Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back for them."
Initially the controversy looked like it had worked in Williams' favour, with the crowd, clearly feeling their player had been wronged, helping her raise her intensity and she won two games in a row.
The concern for Stosur was her thus far impeccable concentration would be broken but she refocused and set about punishing her opponent with huge forehands.
From 3-2 down, the Australian reeled off four games in a row, taking her third match point with a stunning forehand return.
Williams felt the incident had not affected the outcome of the match, saying: "I don't think it had a big impact, because I think at the end she won pretty handily. Maybe it would have been 6-4. I don't know.
"I give her all the credit because she really played phenomenal and she deserved to be the US Open champion this year."
The three-time champion was playing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since another controversy in the semi-finals two years ago when she was given a point penalty for abusing a lineswoman that condemned her to defeat against Kim Clijsters.
Williams admitted she may have confused the two umpires - it was Louise Engzell who was in the chair for the Clijsters match - after saying to Asderaki: "Aren't you the one that screwed me over last time?"
The 29-year-old received a hefty fine and a suspended ban for the first incident that covered this tournament but it is not believed she will fall foul of that for her behaviour this time.
However, she could find herself penalised financially, and the United States Tennis Association said in a statement: "Serena Williams was issued a code violation for verbal abuse by Chair Umpire Eva Asderaki at the conclusion of the first game of the second set during the US Open women's singles final vs Samantha Stosur.
"Tournament Referee Brian Earley is presently reviewing this incident on tape and also will have further discussions with the chair umpire to determine whether this code violation will result in a fine, and, if so, the level of that fine. The decision regarding this matter will be issued tomorrow (Monday).
"Any impact this code violation might have on Serena Williams' Grand Slam probation would require the incident being ruled a major event. That determination will be made by the Grand Slam Committee Director."
While the match will inevitably be remembered for Williams' conduct, what cannot be overstated is just how well Stosur played on her first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium to win her maiden grand slam title.
The 27-year-old, who has only won two WTA Tour titles, reached her first slam final at the French Open last year and was the favourite to beat Francesca Schiavone - but she could not rise to the occasion.
That was certainly not a problem here. Williams was on an 18-match winning streak and had not lost a set going into the final but she was on the back foot almost from the first point.
Stosur, the first Australian woman to win a grand slam title since Evonne Goolagong in 1980, said: "I'm still kind of speechless. I can't actually believe I won this tournament.
"I guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously an unbelievable feeling, and you always hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it is unbelievable. I felt like I was definitely the underdog going into it, so maybe that made me a little more relaxed going into this match than especially my last grand slam final. I think I was able to draw on a lot of that experience from the French Open.
"I had to believe I had a chance to win. I think obviously having two victories over her in the past definitely helped me feel it was possible. I've played matches where I feel like I can't miss a ball, and it's fantastic - but to do it under these circumstances in this kind of final against a player like Serena, for sure I'm going to think it's one of the best days of my career."
Stosur was also reluctant to discuss the second-set incident but admitted it was difficult to maintain her concentration.
"Everything happened so quickly out there, and you're trying to get to the ball and play every single shot," said the ninth seed. "I guess the rules of tennis are there for a reason. She (Asderaki) made the call she felt was right. It was difficult to stay focused, and then obviously the crowd got heavily involved. It was probably the loudest I ever felt a crowd in my whole entire life. You're right in the middle of it.
"It was definitely a quite overwhelming feeling. But, once I hit that next ball in the court and started playing again, I felt settled. I guess it definitely could have been the big pivotal point in the match."