Opinion | US Open: sexism against Serena – organisers and umpire Carlos Ramos owe Williams an apology for their double standards
Tennis world is divided on behaviour in final loss to Naomi Osaka but evidence shows that men and their coaches get an easier ride
A good umpire has to remain fair, impartial, and aware of the situation and stakes before interpreting and enforcing rules. Above all else, an umpire should never impact the outcome of a match.
Carlos Ramos, of Portugal, like a long list of other over-active umpires and officials in tennis, overstepped his boundaries and turned the most brilliant match of the year into the most bizarre grand slam final in recent tennis history.
At a critical juncture in the second set, Ramos cautioned Serena Williams for receiving coaching, effectively stealing her momentum as she roared back from a set down to Naomi Osaka, a Florida resident and American citizen who plays for Japan, where she lived until age three.
Ramos didn’t need to strictly enforce that outdated rule, because no amount of coaching would have saved Serena from Osaka’s 184km/h serves sliding out wide or her consistency, speed and passing shots.
