NEW YORK – She was outplayed, and Serena Williams came close to making that concession in as many words. So in a way the other words, including the pointed, bitter ones she spewed at the chair umpire during the match, could be considered incidental.

Except nothing Serena does, from the way she sports those shredded shoulder T-shirts after matches to the manner she avoids direct answers to most questions is incidental.

Serena, as most everyone else, thought she would win the U.S. Open women’s singles title on the Sunday that America, among its tearful memories on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks probably could have used a homegrown champion.

But it was an Australian, 27-year-old Samantha Stosur, the first Aussie woman to take a Grand Slam in 31 years, since the great Evonne Goolagong in 1980, who was the very deserving winner of this Open, whipping Serena in the final, 6-2, 6-3.

What Serena did was make a mess of everything, as she has done before, by calling the chair umpire a lot of things which wouldn’t be approved in any code of good conduct and recalled a couple of other incidents where Williams was, if not out of control, then on the verge of being there.

The idea you are not supposed to “hinder’’ or harass your opponent isn’t exactly unique to tennis. A defensive lineman in football can be penalized for trying to induce someone on the offense to jump before the ball is snapped. And if it isn’t illegal to shout or jingle coins during a golfer’s backswing, it’s certainly bad sportsmanship.

Having already lost the first set, on a misty afternoon in a match which was delayed for the finish of a very long women’s doubles final, Serena was serving in the first game of the second set. Facing a break point, Williams hit a forehand and as Stosur swung Serena shouted, “Come on!.

Umpire Eva Asderaki ruled by yelling out, Serena “hindered’’ Stosur, awarding the point to Stosur, who was then up, 1-0, in the set.

Williams, reminiscent of other incidents here at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, went ballistic, although unlike the way she berated a line judge after a call two years ago, there were no obscenities. There were, however, a great many threatening remarks.

“If you ever see me walking down the hall,’’ Serena warned Asderaki, “look the other way. Because you’re out of control. You’re not only out of control, you’re a hater, and you’re just unattractive inside. Why would you do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow!’’

Asked later if she thought she were being “fair’’ to the official, Serena went into her avoidance mode. As if a Martian had landed and stolen all her thoughts.

“I think everyone is so intense out there,’’ was the answer that wasn’t the answer. “I was really intense, and everyone just wants to do great. I know I did.’’

Later when she was confronted with the possibility of having “regrets,’’ Serena said, “I am really excited to be here and to have gotten so far. To get here has been a really great experience for me. I regret losing, but I think there was nothing I could do today. I think Sam played really, really well.’’

Unquestionably. But why must Serena turn so many matches into a battle against the individuals who help run tennis? She should be too good for that sort of embarrassment. Weren’t we done with that when John McEnroe went off the court and into the broadcast booth?

Here was a less-than-capacity crowd at 22,500 seat Arthur Ashe Stadium coming to cheer Serena, to admire her for a marvelous comeback after the ailments which hospitalized her, to watch a lady seeded 28th – if only because of inactivity – try for her 14th major championship. And the fans turned on Williams.

They had seen this act before, Serena in the 2009 Open railing against a line judge in such repugnant language she came to be fined more than $80,000. An apology, of sorts, followed, but Serena is on something of a probation and this outburst may cost her more.

“I don’t even remember what I said,’’ was an explanation of this confrontation from Williams, who will be 30 in a couple of weeks, not an age when one loses her memory.

“I guess I’ll have to see it on YouTube. I was just in the zone. I think everyone when they play just kind of zone out kind of thing.’’

Serena is a street kid from Compton, Calif., and it can be argued she’s had to fight for everything she’s gained, so her quick anger is somewhat understandable. She’s not the country-club type, although now she’s rich enough to own part of the Miami Dolphins.

Was she mad at her own play, the erratic serving, and out of frustration waited for a reason to erupt? “I tried to get fired up,’’ Williams said, “just get more Serena-esque and into the match.’’

She was very Serena-esque, but the wrong way.