Serena umpire support

THE International Tennis Federation has moved to pull umpire Carlos Ramos out from under the bus he had been thrown by leading women’s tour officials over his calls against Serena Williams in the US Open final.

The ITF, the governing body of tennis and the umbrella organisation for the four grand slam events, moved to support Ramos a day after the WTA, which runs the women’s tour, said female players were held to a higher standard of behaviour than men.

The ITF said Ramos, who works for it, had been correct in all three of the most contentious decisions that led a furious Williams to claim she had been the victim of sexism in how her US Open final was umpired.

“His decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules,’’ the ITF statement said.