• US Open, Day 14

Unattractive on the inside

ESPN staff
September 11, 2011
Serena Williams told chair umpire Eva Asderakia she was "out of order" after penalising the American for excessive screaming during a point © Getty Images
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Superb Stosur shocks Serena
US Open Day 14 Gallery

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Two years after being dumped out of the US Open semi-finals for verbally abusing a line judge, Serena Williams found herself in trouble once again in Sunday's final against Samantha Stosur. With the American saving the first of two break points with an ace early in the second set, she thought she had saved the next one with a huge forehand, screaming "come on" loudly before Stosur hit the return (although whether Stosur would have reached the return is debatable). The Greek umpire awarded the point, and the game to Stosur, much to the disgust of Williams, who shouted, "Are you the one that screwed me over last time?" During a break in play, Wiilliams continued to berate poor Eva Asderakia claiming the umpire was "out of control". But the best insult: "You're unattractive on the inside".

Fortune favours the... lucky
When playing against a 13-time grand slam champion, you will take all the luck you can get. At 1-1 in the opening set, Stosur was in need of a good start, and she had the net cord to thank for a lucky break. At 30-30 on the Serena serve, a backhand volley bounced off the top of the net to secure a first break point. Stosur lifted her hand in apology to the American, but she was clearly not feeling guilty as she snatched the break when Williams sent a backhand long - but not before the Australian had sent her opponent scuttling around the court with a series of classy forehands.

Bat and ball
The final of the last women's grand slam event of the year should never be considered a laughing matter, but all in attendance had to smile as Stosur and Williams entered into what resembled a game of beach-side bat and ball midway through their Sunday showdown. With Stosur a set up but 0-40 down early in the second against a fired-up Williams, the players met at the net, where they guided a series of volleys to each other - neither player daring to let the ball hit the ground. In the end it was doubles specialist Stosur who came out on top, although Williams went on to cement the break.

Golding's Midas touch
Not yet 18, Oliver Golding has achieved more in his 17 years than most of us would even dream of in a lifetime. A former child actor, Golding appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the West End stage and has acted alongside Keira Knightley, Sir Christopher Lee and Ralph Fiennes. After abandoning life on the stage to pursue a career on the court, Golding won doubles gold in the Youth Olympics in Singapore last year. His partner, Jiri Vesely, was on the other side of the net as the pair went head-to-head in the boys' final on Sunday, and despite losing the opening set to the top seed, Golding battled back to claim victory. The win sees him follow in the footsteps of the likes of Andy Murray and Andy Roddick in winning the title.

Chip off the old block
Following his triumph in the boys' final, Golding will inevitably draw comparisons to British No. 1 Andy Murray, who won the (extremely small) trophy back in 2004. However, statistics and successes are not the only platform on which the duo can be matched. Golding's mannerisms, sometimes sulky and often hard-done-by, also draw comparison to the world No. 4, a fact that was exemplified when he flung his racket after conceding one of four break points in the first set. Another soon-to-be British hopeful loved by many but quietly loathed by others? Very possibly.

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