Game, set, match: Serena Williams labels ref a 'thief' at US Open
The past few weeks have not been kind to US tennis champion, Serena Williams. Firstly, she was called out for her attire, and now she is in trouble for her interactions with an umpire. But it was her outburst which many of her fans have been questioning.
Was Serena' outburst valid and necessary? Find out what KZN had to tell Damon in the podcast, or read the details.
Serena Williams has been thrust into the spotlight again. About a week ago, she made headlines after the US Open decided to ban her iconic catsuit, and now she has been labelled as a 'cheater' after her match with 20-year-old Naomi Osaka from Japan.
According to Sportswave, Williams has been fined $17,000 (over R259,000) for coaching, racquet, and umpire violations after she was called out for allegedly taking coaching from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who was sitting in the stands.
It is reported that after she had been called out for taking 'coaching', she smashed her racket, which also added to the list of violations.
Williams claims that didn’t know her coach was giving her instructions during the US Open Final, adding that she did not see it and that she had 'never cheated in her life'.
Here's the clip of Mouratoglou's hand signal that everyone's been talking about:
Yes or no?
— Anna Chakvetadze (@achakv87) September 8, 2018
pic.twitter.com/wZQSEok0iG
The umpire called her out on her violations and awarded a game to Osaka, causing her to win the final 6-2, 6-4. Serena then completely lost her cool and screamed at the umpire. She also called the umpire a "thief" after his decision.
"I've never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I've never cheated. You owe me an apology," she added. Then she because angrier and demanded that Ramos apologise.
Watch her meltdown below:
Her coach then spoke to ESPN and explained that he, in fact, was coaching, and added that it was a common practice amongst coaches and their players.
I’m honest, I was coaching. I don’t think she looked at me so that’s why she didn’t even think I was, but I was, like 100 percent of the coaches in 100 percent of the matches so we have to stop this hypocritical thing. Sascha was coaching every point, too. It’s strange that this chair umpire was the chair umpire of most of the finals of Rafa and Toni’s coaching every single point and he never gave a warning so I don’t really get it.
Shortly after the heated incident, Serena said in a press conference that she was surprised by her coach's comments, and even texted him to clarify.
She also added that she noticed how different it is for male tennis players who call umpires out.
“I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief,’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark,” she said.
Watch the full press conference below:
Was Serena's outburst unsporting or completely valid? That's the question on many tennis fans' minds.
From an early age at school when playing sport, we’re taught to show respect, follow the rules, and be a good loser. But what happens when you feel like you’re being picked on and accused of cheating?
Also read: Tennis player banned from French Open for kissing TV reporter
While doing my research, I noted that this is not the first time that an umpire had been verbally abused on the court. Back in 2017, Novak Djokovic lost his cool when the same umpire called him out for muttering something under his breath.
See his outburst below:
What do you think of Serena's outburst? Do you think it was unsporting or valid? Let me know in the comments below.