Mouratoglou wants changes to rules

– The coach whose attempts to guide Serena Williams mid-match during this year’s US Open final led to her explosive row with the umpire and a code violation en-route to defeat, has called for on-court coaching to be permitted.

Patrick Mouratoglou (left) admitted gesturing to Williams from the stands during her match with Japan’s Naomi Osaka – in contravention of US Open and other Grand Slam tournament rules – but the American was left incensed at the umpire’s strict interpretation of the rule. She said she had not seen Mouratoglou’s signal and that she had “never cheated in her life”.

The incident and the ensuing row resulted in a game penalty and a $17 000 fine for Williams, and divided tennis by triggering a debate about sexism in the sport.

The debate was fuelled by Williams’ and others assertions that an umpire would not have dealt with a male player in the same way.

Coaching during matches is permitted in some women’s events, but grand slam tournaments are among those which do not allow it. The US Open permitted players to talk to their coaches during qualifying and junior matches, but any move to allow it during main draw matches would need to be unilateral among the four Slams.

This is likely to be problematic with Wimbledon so far entirely against it. –