Serena Williams: US Open final umpire made this mistake leading up to meltdown - Annacone
SERENA WILLIAMS should have been told clearly by the umpire the issue during the US Open final was with her coach.
US Open: Serena Williams confronts umpire in 2018
That’s the opinion of Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone, who claims the rules are tricky for players to understand.
Williams had a breakdown in her US Open final match-up against Naomi Osaka, resulting in three code violations being issued.
The final violation resulted in Williams being handed a game penalty with Osaka going on to claim a famous win in straight sets.
But the spotlight wasn’t on Osaka’s first Grand Slam win, or the fact she was the first Japanese player - male or female - to win one of tennis’ four majors.
The focus was all on Williams and her exchange with umpire Carlos Ramos.
The first warning was handed out to Williams after her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, was spotted attempting to signal towards the American.
That led to the 23-time Grand Slam champion launching a barrage of abuse at the umpire, slamming his decision.
“I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose. I’m just letting you know,” she told Ramos.
Williams’ outburst seemed to suggest she didn’t know Mouratoglou was attempting to signal to her and the rules are quite strict in that regard.
Section L in "Article III -- Player On-Site Offense" in the Grand Slam Rulebook states: ”Players shall not receive coaching during a match (including the warm-up). Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be construed as coaching."
However, Annacone claims Ramos had an opportunity to help calm Williams down by explaining his decision further.
“I would have thought since Serena’s been around long enough she would realise that that probably had nothing to do with her, it’s her coach up there doing something,” Annacone said on the Tennis Channel.
“That’s where the mistake was made. Ramos wasn’t able to jump and go ‘Serena, just understand the rule. This isn’t you doing something, this isn’t a front on your character.
“‘This is your coach, who I say visibly give you signals.
“‘You might not even have seen them and if you did it doesn’t matter, I saw him doing it’
“That’s where the rule gets really tricky for the player on the court.”