The US Tennis Association showed how spineless it is by failing to punish Serena Williams for yet another despicable rant at the US Open.

2000 dollars. The kind of chump-change one is likely to find behind Serena's couch. 

That was the extent of the punishment meted out to the 13-time Grand Slam champion by the USTA - showing once again that when it comes to taking on the biggest names, sports' governing bodies are shamefully spineless. 

Editorial: 10 US Open Thoughts

Serena has previous with the officials at Flushing Meadows - letting loose a barrage of verbal volleys on a hapless lineswoman during her semi-final clash with Kim Clijsters in 2009. On that occasion, she was rightly penalised by being docked a point - which incidentally was also match point. While she denied having said: 'I will kill you' to the official, Serena did apologise for her tantrum.

Which is what makes her reaction to the latest incident even more galling. Even after she'd had time to cool down and reflect on her outburst - during which she had called the umpire "unattractive inside" - Serena dismissed it by saying: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me. I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I don't know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone when they play kind of 'zones out'." 

It is one thing to release some steam in the midst of a tense encounter, another to trivialise the whole thing entirely. Yet another example of how different the world of elite athletes is compared to ours. 

The fact that it's Serena who keeps doing it is particularly disappointing. Having been on the tour for more than a decade, one would expect her to take up the mantle of the elder stateswoman - like Andre Agassi did for the men's tour during the later stages of his career.

However, instead of behaving with dignity, the younger Williams continues to treat those around her with downright contempt. During a tournament in which players complained about a lack of power (with regards to the rain delays and scheduling), Serena's behaviour and the subsequent pitiful fine showed that when push comes to shove, it's they who really call the shots.

To be sure, worse has been said on tennis courts  - most notably Jimmy Connors calling the umpire an "abortion" during the 1991 US Open. John McEnroe was notorious for  insulting officials during his matches. Both men are considered legends of the game - and rightly so - with their antics nothing more than endearing foibles.

Once Serena hangs up her racket, similar leeway might be afforded to her too. For now though, her behaviour has left a bitter taste in the mouth and made USTA the subject of derision amongst tennis fans across the world.