Maria Sharapova came to Taiwan to play a charity exhibition match with fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva on Thursday. Sharapova had a glamorous arrival at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, was welcomed by screaming fans, and finished her journey successfully – with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Zvonareva at the Taipei Arena.

Both the players are now traveling to Tokyo for the $2,050,000 Toray Pan Pacific Open where Sharapova is seeded second and Zvonareva fourth. Sharapova has won the tournament two times, in 2005 and 2009.

E!News' TV presenter Marijana Rancic made a week-long profile of Sharapova during the US Open. She interviewed the Russian about fashion, especially her collections with Cole Haan and Nike, about her fiancé Sasha Vujacic (Maria revealed she'd prefer a small wedding), about the popularity of her Facebook page, there is a mention of Sharapova's and Novak Djokovic's cooperation on the famous Head commercial, and a walk through Sharapova's favorite places in New York City. (source: Maria Sharapova's official website)

Thanks to our reader, Tennis Fan, I was referred to the hindrance rule of the WTA's Rulebook and it suggests that chair umpire Eva Asderaki possibly made a wrong decision in the US Open final when she handed the point to Samantha Stosur because Serena Williams shouted "Come on" before the point was completely finished. The reasoning in favor of Williams is that she did not shout in order to distract her opponent, her reaction was unintentional.

I believe the outcome of the match would be the same anyway, and Williams was attacked by tennis community and fined $2000 because of her aggressive reaction to the disputable call (I still believe everyone should control their temper, even when faced with injustice), but let's see what the official rule for such a situations says:

26. HINDRANCE

If a player is hindered in playing the point by a deliberate act of the opponent(s), the player shall win the point. However, the point shall be replayed if a player is hindered in playing the point by either an unintentional act of the opponent(s), or something outside the player’s own control (not including a permanent fixture).

Let's put Serena's behavior aside, what to you think of Eva Asderaki's call? Was her decision right? Did Serena shout intentionally? Read more »

Clothing brands like to use the opportunity of their players' triumphs to celebrate their achievements and gain extra exposure. Lacoste took out a full page in the New York Times to congratulate Samantha Stosur on her US Open title.

During the Open, the 27-year-old Stosur wore a black, purple and white Lacoste dress. Read more »

According to US Open tradition, Samantha Stosur did a photo shoot with her maiden Grand Slam trophy in Times Square, New York City. Players usually pick a glamorous look for the occasion, but Sam kept it casual and beachy in the white and red stripes of her Lacoste dress.

Stosur has realized it’s not easy being a Grand Slam champion— she had to use three alarm clocks to wake up and fulfill all the obligations to the media and reportedly slept for only an hour and a half.

The Australian’s frozen face expression and stiff smile suggest she’s still shocked by her achievement and how dominantly she won the final against Serena Williams.

Check out Sam's ankles, by the way!

Reminder: In 2009 and 2010 Kim Clijsters showed off her trophy in Times Square and Central Park and before her, in 2008, it was this year's runner-up Serena Williams in a sexy red dress. (via Down the Line, Tennis Served Fresh, Women Who Serve)

Serena Williams has had more than awe-inspiring comeback and she reached the US Open final with all straight-set victories, many of which were very decisive, and she entered the championships match as a strong favorite against Samantha Stosur, but all that admiration Williams' tennis deserves quickly vanished when she showed utter lack of control and shameful impoliteness in the beginning of the second set.

Stosur had spent a lot of time on the court en route to the final and had never won a Grand Slam title and was therefore an underdog, however, the Australian had a diverse game accompanied by good use of Williams' missed first serves and she won the first set 6-2. In the first game of the second set, down 40-30 on her serve, Williams seemed to have saved the break point with a forehand winner, but her loud "Come on" before the ball reached Stosur was perceived as a shout in the middle of a point, and chair umpire Eva Asderaki handed Stosur the point and hence the game. It triggered such an anger in Williams, that she started yelling disgraceful things at the Greek umpire. Here's the video:

Read more »

Despite all the odds and Serena Williams' legacy and intimidating form, Samantha Stosur won the US Open 2011 final in an impressive fashion, with a 6-2 6-3 score, and won her maiden Grand Slam title. The ninth-seeded Stosur was focused, classy, played wonderful tennis and was  modest in her victory.

Here's a video of the trophy ceremony. Look how cute and shy Stosur was.

Stosur praised her Serena's indisputable career achievements, ignoring her shameful argument with chair umpire.

Ever since I started playing it was a dream of mine to be here one day. I don't really know what to say. Serena, you are a fantastic player, great champion and have done wonders for our sport.

Stosur spent more than 13 hours on the court this US Open, and she is only the second Australian woman to win the tournament, however, despite everything it has to be mentioned that the fact that Serena was her opponent in the final brings extra weight to her trophy. Read more »

Both Samantha Stosur and Serena Williams reached the 2011 US Open final in an amazing way – Stosur played the longest US Open women's singles match in the third round against Nadia Petrova, and followed it with a match against Maria Kirilenko which featured the longest women's tiebreak at any major, then played three sets against suprise semifinalist Angelique Kerber, while her final obstacle was Serena Williams, who hadn't dropped a set at the tournament and who crushed world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in the semis.

The favorite was Serena Williams because of all her solid wins in the lead-up to the tournament and at the tournament and because she's the owner of 13 Grand Slam titles in singles, including three US Open. However, Stosur was focused, put nerves aside, and played a smart all-round game, while Williams overshadowed her tennis with a verbal attack at chair umpire Eva Asderaki which looked really inappropriate and showed Williams' lack of class.

Read more »

Caroline Wozniacki can remind us of her amazing number of titles and matches won, but that will do little to silence the ever-more-annoying yet understandable criticism of her occupying the number one ranking. In her first meeting with Serena Williams since she overtook the top ranking from the American, Wozniacki had a perfect opportunity to show that her defensive game works against everyone, but that was far from the truth. Instead, the Dane was humbled by Serena's intimidating first serve and power tennis, and will finish yet another season without a Grand Slam title.

Not long ago Serena was hospitalized for blood clots in her lungs and this US Open is only her sixth tournament after almost a year-long absence with injuries and health problems, but the 13-time Grand Slam champions needs no warmup – of those six tournaments she won two Premier-level titles and is now in the final of the US Open without dropping a set on the way. Her 11 aces in the semifinal, and 34 winners to Wozniacki's five, could only leave the Dane awe-struck.

Wozniacki is known for being strong and not letting the critics take away her pleasure in enjoying the top ranking and great win-loss record, and unfortunately, she will still need lots of good verbal defense after being blown away by Serena 6-2 6-4 in the US Open semifinals.

Serena's last obstacle to her fourth US Open trophy will be Samantha Stosur, who defeated surprise semifinalist Angelique Kerber 6-3 2-6 6-2. The 92-ranked Kerber started nervously but didn't let the semifinal finish straightforward, taking the second set from Stosur before permitting the Australian to take a 5-0 lead in the third set. The world No.10 Stosur, who had a rollercoaster ride to reach the semis, said that she realized her dream by reaching the final of the US Open, after twenty years of tennis career.

Stosur played the final of Roland Garros 2010 and lost it to Francesca Schiavone. Williams leads Stosur 4-2 in career meetings, and her most recent victory was this year in Toronto final. They met later at Cincinnati, but Stosur advanced with a walkover. (photos: © Neal Trousdale)