Serena Williams Fined Record Penalty For Unsportsmanlike Behavior at the US Open

At this year's US Open one of the more unforgettable moments involved Serena Williams screaming obscenities at a line judge over a foot fault call. Despite a heartfelt apology, Williams has been fined $82,500 for the incident and has been put on probation for the next two years.

The ruling, handed down by the Grand Slam committee, is the largest fine ever for a Grand Slam offense. This title was previously held by Jeff Tarango, who was fined $48,000 in the '90s for walking off a Wimbledon match and verbally attacking an umpire. If Williams incurs another "major offense" at a Grand Slam in the next two years, she will be suspended from the US Open in 2010, 2011, or 2012, and her fine will increase to $175,000.

In case you missed it, Serena told the line judge: "I'm going to shove this [expletive] ball down your [expletive] throat."  Williams also swatted her racket at the judge's general direction and used finger-jabbing to reinforce her point. At the time, the display of behavior cost Williams $10,000 — the maximum penalty a player can receive on site. The onsite penalty fine will be deducted from the current ruling.

The maximum fine of $175,000 was chosen because it is the difference in winnings between reaching the quarter finals and semifinals in the US Open.