NOVAK BACKS SERENA
Novak backs Serena over ‘unnecessary’ actions of umpire
NOVAK DJOKOVIC reckons under-fire umpire Carlos Ramos could have cost Serena Williams Grand Slam history in New York.
The newly-crowned US Open champion weighed in as Ramos came under attack from leading figures amid an ongoing sexism row.
The governing body of women’s tennis, the WTA, accused the Portuguese of treating women differently after Williams lost to Naomi Osaka.
However, world chiefs, the International Tennis Federation, broke their silence to declare Ramos “acted at all times with professionalism and integrity”.
Williams was fined £13,000 for a meltdown that saw her hit with three code violations, including a game penalty after calling Ramos a “thief ” for docking her a point.
It led to chaotic scenes with Williams in tears before Osaka was left crying during the presentation amid booing.
Djokovic, who defeated Juan Martin del Potro 24 hours later, said: “Maybe the chair umpire should not have pushed Serena to the limit, especially in a Grand Slam final. It did change the course of the match and was maybe unnecessary.
“We all go through our emotions especially when you’re fighting for a Grand Slam trophy.”
Williams dubbed the game penalty “sexist” after missing out on a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. And as Djokovic was being presented with his trophy, WTA chief Steve Simon backed her up.
He said: “The WTA believes 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. We do not believe that this was done on Saturday night.
“We look forward to more thrilling matches between these great athletes and hope that what we all witnessed yesterday never happens again.”
But Djokovic didn’t see things the same way as Simon.
The Serb said: “Men and women are treated in this way or the other way depending on the situation. It’s hard to generalise things. I don’t see it’s necessary really to debate that.
“I love Serena, first of all. I really felt for her. It’s a tough thing for a chair umpire to deal with. We have to empathise with him. Everyone was in a very awkward situation.”
Ex-American star Pam Shriver said Ramos “helped derail a championship match by being rigid beyond normal protocol”.
And United States Tennis Association president Katrina Adams said: “We have to have consistency because when you look at what the women, in this case Serena, is feeling, we watch the guys do this all the time.
“They are badgering the chair umpires on the changeover. Nothing happens.”
But former leading umpire Richard Ings said he’d handled the match “absolutely perfectly” as the ITF came to his defence after initially not commenting.
The ITF said: “Mr Ramos’s decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules and were reaffirmed by the US Open’s decision to fine Ms Williams for the three offences.”