Stosur stuns Serena

Samantha Stosur stunned three-time champion Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the US Open yesterday, claiming the first Grand Slam title of her career in a stormy final. Stosur kept her composure as Williams erupted in anger at the chair umpire in the second set, dominating the 13-time Grand Slam champion who had reached the final without dropping a set. She became the first Australian woman to take the title in New York since Margaret Court in 1973, and the first to win a Grand Slam title since Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980. Williams arrived in the final after dismantling world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals on Saturday night. But Stosur cooly claimed the opening set, breaking Williams to lead 2-1 and winning the last 12 points of the set as Williams' frustration grew. Williams, whose powerful serve is a cornerstone of her game, struggled to get her first serves in and Stosur repeatedly made her pay. The Australian was still rolling in the opening game of the second set, giving herself a double break point with a crushing return of serve. Williams saved one with an ace, and appeared to save another for deuce. But the American's shout of "c'mon" as soon as she unleashed her forehand came before Stosur reached the ball, and umpire Eva Asdaraki penalised Williams for “intentional hindrance” and the point and the game went to Stosur. “Aren't you the one who screwed me over last time?,” Williams bellowed at Asdaraki. “That is not cool.” The scene recalled Williams' similar meltdown in her 2009 semi-final defeat to Kim Clijsters. In that match, she unleashed a tirade of abuse at a lineswoman who called a foot-fault during the tense match and a penalty point sealed her fate in a 6-4, 7-5 defeat. This time an angry Williams immediately stepped up her game, breaking Stosur for 1-1 and holding to edge ahead 2-1. “I was doing my best, I hit a winner but I guess it didn't count,” Williams said. “But it wouldn't have mattered in the end.” Williams continued to berate Asdaraki on the changeover, but Stosur stayed calm and saved two break points in the fourth game to level the set at 2-2. She gained the edge with a break for 4-3, and broke again to seal the match with yet another blistering return off a Williams second serve on her third match point.