Calls for change after Serena’s umpire spat

Sportsweek programme: “As far as the rant goes, I think the umpire was following the rules by the book, and so that is harsh.

“But Serena in some ways has a point in the fact that I’ve sat courtside watching the men ranting at umpires and (they) haven’t been given a violation. Both have a point.

“Serena is saying the male players can say what they like to an umpire. Also, earlier in the tournament we saw Alize Cornet being given a code violation for changing her shirt on-court. Then, in the same tournament, Mohamed Lahyani gets off the umpires’ chair to talk to Nick Kyrgios and persuade him not to give up on a match.

“So I think they have to look at the rules of what is allowed and what isn’t, because I just think he was following the rules absolutely by the book, but sometimes the book has to be re-written - you can’t have one rule for some players, and some umpires don’t adhere to it and allow players to get away with things.

“I think they just have to be fair to the players. Tennis was the loser.

“I wouldn’t want to see it, but if it’s coming to things like this, it’s ruining the game - if they can’t adhere to the rules, then they’ll have to allow the coaching.

“I think the WTA, the ATP and the ITF have to get together. It can’t be a grey area any more, and maybe there has to be a supervisor that comes on to have the final say, before you give a game away.”

Former US Open champion Andy Roddick tweeted that it was the “worst refereeing I’ve ever seen ...... the worst !!!”

Williams was furious when she was given a coaching violation early in the second set after a hand gesture from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, telling Ramos she would rather lose than cheat.

She was then docked a point for a second violation when she smashed her racket.

Williams then accused Ramos of being a “thief” for taking a point away from her and he gave her a third violation, docking a game.

Williams said after the match: “For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.”

Two-time finalist and former world number one Victoria Azarenka tweeted: “If it was men’s match, this wouldn’t happen like this. It just wouldn’t.”

Meanwhile Billie Jean King said that Williams had called out a “double standard”.

In a statement, the US Open said the chair umpire’s decision was final.