Williams flashpoint ‘unlikely’ at Wimbledon, says Brook

The Serena Williams flashpoint at the US Open final was “not a good look for tennis”, in the words of All England Club chairman Philip Brook, who also suggested that a similar fiasco would have been unlikely to develop at Wimbledon.

Speaking to reporters this week, Brook argued that the “cauldronlike” atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium – where the 24,000 fans were all but united in their desire to see an American champion – had placed a huge amount of pressure on Williams.

Brook also added that Carlos Ramos, the umpire who handed Williams her three code violations, was just “doing his job”. As for Williams, who turned 37 yesterday, she has barely commented since the night itself, except to say that she cannot understand why her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, should have been making signals to her.

“People said to me, would that happen at Wimbledon?” Brook told reporters. “My first reaction is maybe it could, but actually I do wonder [about] the uniqueness of the circumstances in New York.

“You have a very partisan crowd who really wanted Serena to win. There is a huge amount resting on this one match because she is one match away from equalling Margaret Court’s record [of 24 grand-slam titles]. It is a bit cauldron-like.

“When they walk on court, it’s not like a Wimbledon final. The final of Wimbledon [where Williams had lost to Angelique Kerber] was similar in some senses but it wasn’t her home crowd in her home country. I could imagine the pressure on her being even greater than ever because of those circumstances, and we all saw what happened. I think she was under a lot of pressure, I think he [Ramos] was doing his job and what unfolded unfolded. It was not a good look for tennis.”

Meanwhile, Andy Murray beat world No 11 David Goffin in straight sets yesterday to reach the quarterfinals in Shenzhen. It was Murray’s best win in rankings terms since last year’s French Open. His next opponent will be the veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who beat him in an ill-tempered match at the US Open last month.