We have the final verdict on Serena Williams’ outburst in the US Open 2009 semifinal – the world No.1 has been fined $175,000 and put on probation for two years.

If she makes further major offences at a Grand Slam in the next two years, she will be suspended from the US Open in 2010, 2011 or 2012. If she makes no major offence during the period mentioned, her fine will be reduced to $82,500.

Williams had already been fined $10,500 for the misconduct which included an expletive-laced rant at the official. It is the biggest fine given to a women’s tennis player since record began in 1990.

The $175,000 fine includes the $10,500 penalty. (source: Reuters, photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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Most sources of information now indicate that Serena Williams will be fined as much as 1 million dollars for her misconduct in the 2009 US Open semifinal against Kim Clijsters.

Williams is not likely to be banned from the 2010 Australian Open, but could lose her US Open ranking points and be obliged to give back her US Open prize money. Also, she could be suspended from playing the next US Open.

The ITF's Grand Slam Committee is expected to announce a final verdict very soon.

Reminder: Williams has already been fined $10,500 for the incident. (source: Women Who Serve, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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As promised, Women's Tennis Blog is continuing its tradition of revising on-court outfits from the season behind us. This year's retrospections will start with the best-dressed WTA player – Nike-clad Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova started the season late, because of her career-threatening shoulder injury, playing her first match of 2009 at the BNP Paribas Open in March. She was introducing herself to competitive tennis slowly, playing doubles first, but her style had to be spot-on from the very beginning, and it was.

People argued that Sharapova’s Roland Garros dress had too much fabric, but I liked it, and I especially favored the blue color against the red clay. Read more »

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Who would have thought back in June that Kim Clijsters would win the 2009 US Open? Well, neither did her coach Wim Fissette when he said to Kim at the exhibition in Rosmalen: "If you win the US Open I'll shave my head." Kim won the bet, and her coach has lost his hair.

Look at Kim’s little daughter Jada with a soother at 2:40. I know I’m repeating this all the time, but she’s so cute.

Info: You should click through to watch this video on YouTube, because the administrators of Kim's profile have disabled embedding (don't ask me why).

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Surprise US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin made an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show to talk about her spectacular experience at the Grand Slam.

Among other things, Melanie was of course asked to give her opinion about the Serena Williams incident.

Interesting detail: The 17-year-old Melanie has a boyfriend and he’s 15. Hihi.

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