There is no love for etiquette these days following a peculiar finish to the 2009 U.S. Open. The tournament featured some spectacular tennis, late-tourney weather delays, some warm-feeling upset stories as well as a raucous meltdown and two surprising winners.

The biggest story of the tournament unfortunately was Serena Williams’ debacle. Williams trailed 6-4, 6-5 and was serving at 15-30 in the semi-finals to Kim Clisters. Williams missed a first serve, then was called for a foot fault by the line judge, on the second. She imploded and screamed at the line judge; let’s just say her choice of words were unbecoming of a lady. She made mildly violent motions with her racket and said a slew of expletives and threats to the judge. Serena had already received a warning for a code violation after she demolished a racket earlier in the match. Following her tirade she was assessed a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on match point, ending the match and pushing the eventual 2009 champion Clisters to the finals.

Serena’s actions were unacceptable and have brought a dark shadow to the sport of tennis. Williams was carried away by her emotions, which led to her running her mouth resulting in a media frenzy. It was not about the amazing run of the wild-card Clisters; or the dazzling play of a young and upcoming American teenager, but of Serena’s bad sportsmanship. The newspapers and the TV stations covered the incident as well as the controversy that followed. Some consider Serena to be the flag bearer of women’s tennis these days and her antics damaged the sport’s credibility. Even though the disputed call was incredibly close, it still didn’t warrant her actions. She was fined $10,000, the maximum on-site penalty that can be issued for unsportsmanlike conduct at a Grand Slam tournament; however the fine pales in comparison to her $350,000 prize for reaching the semi-finals and to the millions she has collected on and off the court.

Clisters was fantastic all tournament long; her forehand has never looked so strong and she defeated both Williams sister’s en route to her second career major. Clisters came off a two-year retirement this summer following her marriage and the birth of her daughter Jada. Clisters was only the second mother to win a Grand Slam; the last was Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won Wimbledon in 1980.

Another feel-good story was that of an American teenager Melanie Oudin, who knocked off several seeded players en route to a quarterfinal finish. The 17-year-old defeated Elena Dementieva and Maria Sharapova during her magical run. Her play brings hope that the future of American tennis may be brighter than expected.

My hat is off to Juan Martin del Potro for ending five-time defending champion Roger Federer’s 40-match win streak at the Open defeating him in the finals 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. I was disappointed as a fan of Federer, but as a tennis fan I can appreciate when a player deserves a win, and Del Potro deserved it. Del Potro was hands down the most consistent player during the two weeks. He dismantled Nadal in the semis and rallied from two sets to one down against Roger.

Del Potro was only the second man to win a major with a last name other than Federer or Nadal since the 2004 French Open. The fans of the sport will hopefully continue to get to see the rivalry that Federer and Nadal bring to the table; however it is good to see other players making their presence felt at the top of men’s tennis.

Despite the loss, Federer has had a year to remember. He finally conquered his troubles at the French Open completing his career Grand Slam; he won Wimbledon for the sixth time and simultaneously surpassed Pete Sampras for the most majors won at 15. He made all four major finals this year, a year in which he became a father to twin girls.

Federer drew a $1,500 fine after TV microphones picked up an argument he had with the chair umpire over a dispute with the challenge system in the championship match. The disagreement involved profanity from Federer during a changeover. I would expect Federer to be civil in disagreements, but let’s be honest, it isn’t like he was shaking a racket at anyone or claiming he would kill them. I really don’t give much thought to it and the only reason this got serious attention is that it followed Serena’s fiasco.

Despite being marred by negative distractions, the tournament had a feel-good finish. Clisters’ triumphant return to the game has brought rumors that former world No. 1 Justine Henin will make a return to professional tennis. If Henin’s return does happen, it would be instrumental in clearing fans’ minds of Serena and directing them back to the tennis.