Barker leads calls for rule changes after Williams’ US Open row with umpire

Sue Barker has called for there to be a “look at the rules” following an extraordinary US Open final that saw Serena Williams lose to Naomi Osaka after an angry confrontation with the umpire.

Greats of the game, current and former players and officials have been reacting to the final, with Carlos Ramos’ decision-making, which saw Williams docked a point and then a game over a row sparked by a warning for coaching, being met with support and criticism, with Osaka winning 6-2 6-4.

Meanwhile there has been further debate over Williams’ charge that she had been a victim of sexism from the chair.

Former French Open champion Barker told BBC Radio 5 Live’s 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.”