Serena Williams & Billie-Jean King’s tennis sexism claims dismissed by Jamie Murray

US Open Womens Single champion Naomi Osaka of Japan (L) with Serena Williams of the US during their Women’s Singles Finals match at the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in NY on September 8, 2018.

Naomi Osaka said on Thursday Serena Williams’s row with the umpire during the US Open final had not altered her feelings about winning a Grand Slam, largely because she had no idea how she was supposed to react.

Williams, who lost the final to Naomi Osaka on Saturday, received warnings from Ramos for coaching and breaking a racket before being docked a game for calling the umpire a “thief”.

Strycova said she didn’t understand why the WTA Tour and US Tennis Association released statements supporting Williams. “We’ve never had signals”. “If you’re a female you should be able to do even half of what a guy can do”, she said.

The American claimed it was “sexist” and her view was endorsed by former champion Billie-Jean King, who said there was a “double standard”.

Ramos is back in the umpire’s chair this weekend when Croatia host the United States in a Davis Cup tie in Zadar and USA captain Jim Courier said of the Williams incident: “It’s been polarized and in some ways politicized”. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalised for the actions of her coach.

Williams received several violations during her match with Osaka.

“Usually when you break a racket, you get a code violation”, Cilic said (via the Associated Press).

Appearing on “The Ellen Show”, the 20-year-old Grand Slam champion told host Ellen DeGeneres that Williams explained to her that the crowd’s negative reaction to the situation was not aimed towards the Haitian- Japanese athlete. “I have NEVER cheated in my life, I have a daughter and I stand for what is right and I have NEVER cheated”.

Male tennis players are nearly three times more likely to be fined for losing their temper and smashing rackets than their female counterparts, The New York Times reported Saturday, September 15.

Ramos sent Williams into a further rage when he handed the superstar a game penalty for verbal abuse. “Especially if it can affect the future and affect a lot of people in the future”.

“I just don’t understand”, Williams said.

The incident led to scores of Williams’ supporters coming to her defense but also to widespread criticism, especially on social media, of the 23-time Grand Slam victor.