SERENA GETS HIT WITH RECORD FINE

SMH....at them trying to stick it to Serena despite the fact the call was indeed bogus....The NY Daily New reports

that Serena was served with a record fine for her profanity-laced tirade aimed at a lineswoman during a Sept. 12 U.S. Open match.

In addition to the unprecedented $82,500 fine, Williams could be suspended from a future U.S. Open if she commits another "major offense" during a Grand Slam event over a probationary period that will last the next two years, Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock told the wire service.

The penalty, the most severe ever dished out by the London-based body, was meted out for Williams' meltdown during a semifinals match against Kim Clijsters after lineswoman An Shino called Williams for a foot fault - a penalty that led to match point.

"I swear to God, I'll f--- take this ball and shove it down your f--- throat," the 11-time Grand Slams singles champion screamed at the lineswoman, an exchange picked up by television cameras.

Replays later showed the lineswoman's call was wrong.

Clijsters went on to win the tournament, but critics slammed the USTA's decision to let Williams play with her older sister, Venus, in the tournament's double finals after fining the younger Williams $10,500 - out of the $350,000 she had earned on her U.S. Open run.

"I think she should be suspended," CBS tennis analysis Mary Carillo said at the time. "I can't believe they are letting her play the doubles after that. What does it say about our sport if all you do is hand out a fine?"

If Williams has another flareup to violate her probation, she would face a fine of $175,000, in addition to the U.S. Open suspension, The Associated Press reported.