Serena is fined $17,000 for tirades

NEW YORK — Serena Williams was fined a total of $17,000 for three code violations during her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in Saturday’s U.S. Open final.

Tthe tournament referee’s office docked Williams $10,000 on Sunday for “verbal abuse” of chair umpire Carlos Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching and $3,000 for breaking her racket. The money comes out of her prize money of $1.85 million as the runner-up to Osaka.

In the second set’s second game, Ramos warned Williams, 36, for getting coaching, which is against the rules in Grand Slam matches.

She briefly disputed that ruling, saying cheating “is the one thing I’ve never done, ever” — although afterward, her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, acknowledged he was trying to send Williams a signal.

A few games later, Williams received another warning, this time for smashing her racket, and that second violation automatically cost her a point, leading to arguing. Eventually, Williams called Ramos “a thief,” drawing the third violation for “verbal abuse” — and costing her a game, putting Osaka ahead 5-3.

Under Article III, Section P of the Grand Slam Rule Book, “verbal abuse” is defined as “a statement about an official, opponent, sponsor, spectator or other person that implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting or otherwise abusive.”