Serena hits break point over sexism

didn’t work out for me but it’s going to work out for the next person. I stood up for what I believed in, what was right. Sometimes things don’t happen the way we want but always stay gracious and stay humble. “You can’t go back in time but I can’t say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief [again] because I thought he took a game from me. I wasn’t being coached. If I look at my box and they say ‘Come on’ or ‘Good job’, I don’t know what else to do. He took a point from me. He alleged I was cheating, and I wasn’t.” The drama led to huge debate on social media. King said: “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and is penalised. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions. “Thank you Serena Williams for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.” Williams was raging at the coaching accusation despite Patrick Mouratoglou, above, later admitting he did offer her instructions, with TV pictures showing him gesturing. “If I’m honest I was coaching but I don’t think she looked at me so that’s why I don’t think I was coaching,” he said. “But I was, like 100 per cent of the coaches on 100 per cent of the matches.

“We have to stop this hypocrite thing. Osaka’s coach was coaching every point too.”

After hearing his comments, Williams said: “I texted Patrick to ask what he was talking about as we don’t have signals. We’ve never discussed signals.

“I don’t use on-court coaching. One thing I love about tennis is being out there. It’s the one time I don’t want to hear anyone tell me anything.”

The actions of Williams took the shine off Osaka’s big day as the 20-year-old became Japan’s first Grand Slam title winner. The home crowd jeered at the presentation, with Williams pleading for the boos to stop as Osaka was reduced to tears.

USTA president Katrina Adams praised Williams, saying: “What Serena did on the podium showed class and sportsmanship. That was a class move from a true champion.”