WTA chief defends Serena in ‘sexist’ row

SERENA Williams absorbed a $17,000 fine in the wake of her tumultuous US Open final loss to Naomi Osaka on Sunday as debate raged over whether the code violations that sparked her meltdown were sexist.

Williams’s claim that the code violations that sparked her meltdown in the US Open final were sexist stirred debate, with WTA Tour chief executive Steve Simon backing her on Sunday.

Williams was handed three code violations – and docked a point and then a game – in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in the Flushing Meadows final.

Osaka outplayed her childhood hero to become the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam, but her success was swamped in the controversy.

Williams claimed that chair umpire Carlos Ramos meted out penalties for infractions that male players could have gotten away with, specifically a violation for verbal abuse after she called him a “thief” and a “liar” for warning her for coaching from her players’ box, then docking her a point when a racquet abuse violation followed.

Eventually she was docked a game – putting Osaka on the brink of victory.

‘Double standard’

Simon said the affair brought to the forefront the question of whether different standards are applied to men and women in the officiating of matches.

“The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same,” he said.

“We do not believe that this was done last night.”

Williams was most incensed by the first code violation she received – for coaching.

It’s not clear if she even saw the hand gestures by coach Patrick Mouratoglou sitting her box, although he admitted in an interview with ESPN that he was trying to advise her – and said all coaches do it.

Simon said the sport as a whole should examine the rules on coaching, noting that the WTA already allows on-court coaching during regular tour events – if a player requests it.

US great Billie Jean King addressed both issues, also seeing things Williams’s way.

“When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalised for it,” King tweeted. “When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ & and there are no repercussions.

“Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”