Don’t expect more coaching help for Serena

NEW YORK Serena Williams is back in the U.S. Open final after her infamous meltdown last year, when penalties from chair umpire Carlos Ramos, which began when he dinged the legend with a coaching violation, eventually ended in accusations that he was a “thief.” Naomi Osaka would win the match and the title.

Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams’ coach, said this week that he acknowledged giving her a sign from his seat in the stands. He also said he would do the same thing again if he thought Williams was struggling.

Asked about that after her win over Elina Svitolina in the semifinals, Williams bluntly disagreed.

“Yeah, no, he knows better than to say that to me,” she said. “I think he was just playing with you guys. That’s not, like, an option for me.”

OK, then, we are all agreed: No coaching allowed.