Samantha Stosur Defeats Serena Williams for US Open Title

September 11, 2011 Updated: October 2, 2015

US OPEN CHAMPION: Samantha Stosur (R) poses with Serena Willims (L) at the trophy ceremony at the conclusion of the 2011 US Open Women's Final on Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York on Sunday night. Stosur claimed her first Grand Slam victory, saying after the match, 'It didn't matter to me if I hadn't ever won a title before today. I've got this one now, so that makes me proud.' (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)
US OPEN CHAMPION: Samantha Stosur (R) poses with Serena Willims (L) at the trophy ceremony at the conclusion of the 2011 US Open Women's Final on Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York on Sunday night. Stosur claimed her first Grand Slam victory, saying after the match, 'It didn't matter to me if I hadn't ever won a title before today. I've got this one now, so that makes me proud.' (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)
FLUSHING, New York—Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Australian Samantha Stosur beat fan favorite Serena Williams in straight sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday 6–2, 6–3, claiming the 2011 women’s US Open title.

“I'm still kind of speechless. I can't actually believe I won this tournament,” she said after the match.

The win was historic for not only Stosur, who won her first Grand Slam of her career, but also for her home country of Australia, which claimed its first US Open women’s title since Margaret Court won in 1973.

Williams started the match struggling to get her first serve in, a trend that continued the entire match. Not having to fight off the Williams serve, often one of Serena's biggest weapons, Stosur was able to control the first set. She did not look rattled at all to be playing on Ashe or against the crowd favorite Serena Williams. Stosur took the final 12 points of the first set, cruising to a 6–2 victory in 31 minutes.

The first game of the second set caused quite a stir at Ashe. After hitting an ace and extending the game to 30–40, Williams yelled “Come on!” after hitting what she thought was a winner. The umpire penalized her a point for interference, because she yelled prior to the play being over. Williams argued the call but the ruling stood, costing her the game. After the match she dodged all questions about the call other than to say, “I thought it was a clear winner.”

TRUE CHAMPION: Samantha Stosur returns a shot during the 2011 US Open women's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York on Sunday night. Stosur cruised to a straight set victory 6-2, 6-3 over three-time champion Serena Williams. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)
TRUE CHAMPION: Samantha Stosur returns a shot during the 2011 US Open women's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York on Sunday night. Stosur cruised to a straight set victory 6-2, 6-3 over three-time champion Serena Williams. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)
The crowd booed in protest, and then vocalized their support for Williams as she took three out of the next four games, perhaps fueled on anger and adrenalin. Stosur seemed a little shaken by the rowdy crowd; “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.”

Stosur was able to compose herself, claiming the last four games in a row, and her first Grand Slam title.

Despite her unsportsmanlike conduct during the match, Williams sat down next to the Stosur after the match and congratulated her. “I was really surprised to see her sitting next to me at that moment in time. I guess it shows what a nice person she is and what a true champion she is of the sport.”

After receiving congratulations from her opponent, Stosur jumped up to the box seats where her family and team of coaches and friends were waiting. “To be able to celebrate that moment with everyone who's been supporting me through these two weeks and throughout a lot of my career was a fantastic feeling.”

Stosur will continue to celebrate as she heads back to Australia. Williams, however, is facing a possible fine and suspension for her outburst against the umpire after the lost point in the second set.

A statement released by the USTA said that she was issued a code violation for her comments directed at the chair umpire and a review would be made by Tournament Referee Brian Earley to decide if a fine would be issued and how much. A decision will be made tomorrow.

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