U.S. Open fines Serena Williams for outburst

Serena Williams was fined $2,000 Monday for verbal abuse of chair umpire Eva Asderaki at the conclusion of the first game of the second set of her final against Samantha Stosur on Sunday.

U.S. Open tournament referee Brian Earley issued the fine, and Grand Slam tournament director Bill Babcock ruled that the violation "did not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."

Williams didn't use profane language after Asderaki had assessed Williams a penalty point for verbal hindrance when she screamed "Come on" before a forehand had landed on Stosur's side of the net. But Williams did point her racket in a threatening manner at Asderaki at the start of the first game of the second set, and at the end of that game, the code violation was issued.

Williams was on the last tournament of a two-year Grand Slam probation for a tirade against a lineswoman in a semifinal of the 2009 Open against Kim Clijsters. That was ruled a major offense. Had Sunday's incident been ruled a major offense, then Babcock said Williams would have been suspended from the 2012 Open. Williams' probation ended with this Open.

Bryan fined $10,000. Doubles player Mike Bryan was handed the maximum on-site fine of $10,000 for an off-court unsportsmanlike conduct violation after he and brother Bob, the No. 1-ranked team, lost in the first round. Details of the violation were not revealed and he has 30 days to appeal.