Hate the WoMAn.

Firstly lets look at the facts.

There is a clearly defined code violation system in tennis and Carlos Ramos adhered to it,

The only possible ambiguity is regarding coaching. It is generally recognised that the player is responsible for the coach's behaviour ie if coach tries to coach player during match player receives code violation due to coach's actions, however the wording is about receiving coaching, so if a coach makes signals and player hasn't seen them is that actually receiving coaching.

The authorities make it difficult for themselves her by allowing on court coaching at WTA events and are trialling in match coaching elsewhere, its a confusing message for coaches and players alike.

Having said all this Serena very rarely if ever takes the on court coaching at WTA events and interestingly her sister Venus received a code violation from Ramos in the past and she also does not often if ever take the on court coaching often.

All that aside, the umpire followed the rules and the problem here is that the umpires do not consistently follow the rules. If they did, then players like Kyrgios would simply not get away with it.

Serena's behaviour was disgraceful and there are no excuses.

The USTA and WTA have completely whitewashed what has gone on and have tried to blame the umpire. The ITF have washed their hands of it saying he was umpiring at someone else's event etc, this is probably the end of the guy's career and he's one of the best umpires in the business.

The winner of US Upen gets $3.8mill, the umpire $450, you can see clearly where the power lies.

Katrina Adams, head of USTA has said that umpires should be more lenient in final, and this is again causing confusion. You cant ask for umpires to be more consistent and then tell them to interpret the same rules differently when it comes to a final.

Serena tries to claim she's fighting for women's rights that she's a role model, and that this is sexism and discrimination.

There have been far more hefty fines levied on male players this year than female players.

At this US Open alone, 23 male players were fined for code violations, only 8 female players, maybe its to do with the fact that men play best of 5 whilst women only play best of 3, for the same prize money.

The USTA and WTA have praised Serena's behaviour. Are they intending to show videos of her behaviour to young players and say this is how you should behave if an official says something you don't like to hear?

The poor governance of the sport is letting players, officials and fans down.

I'm own a tennis club, I coach and I'm a referee, I hate to see stuff like this tarnish the sport.

Just to add, here is the wording about the coaching code violation:

must not receive coaching during a match (including during the warm-up) except where play is suspended and the Players are off court. ‘Coaching’ is to be interpreted widely, and communication of any kind, audible or visible, between a Player and a person off court (for example, a coach, relative or representative) may be treated as coaching
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as officials we act if we see a parent or coach instructing.

For example "Great shot" is ok
but "Great backhand, more of that" is not

Its that strict.

BUT, the actual wording is

"must not receive coaching during a match"

so if a coach makes signals but player doesn't see and receive them, has a violation of the code actually occurred?

If I was Serena that would be the point I would stress in any appeal, rather than saying 'Ive got a daughter so I'm not a cheat'. However, lets hope she's not appealing.

Sorry, one other point...Ramos, is strict on coaching and good umpires will regularly be checking players boxes.

Serena was completely outclassed in first set, in fact I think Osaka was a run of about 20 break points saved in a row throughout tourney, but Serena suddenly got upper hand in second set and broke Osaka, you could see why Ramos would perhaps be extra vigilant on what was going on from Serena's coaching team.

comment by AZA (U5000)
posted 8 hours, 7 minutes ago
1) He deducted a point for coaching, she said "I don't cheat". The Coach admitted trying to coach, regardless of the player on court that is a penalty point.
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No he didn't he gave her a warning for coaching, gave point penalty for racket abuse then game penalty for verbal abuse.

Here is the definition for verbal abuse btw:

Players shall not at any time directly or indirectly verbally abuse an of-
ficial, opponent, sponsor, spectator or any other person within the pre- cincts of the tournament site. Verbal abuse is defined as any statement about an official, opponent, sponsor, spectator or any other person that implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting or otherwise abusive.
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Calling the umpire a liar, cheat and thief imply dishonesty and is clearly verbal abuse according to the rules of tennis.

What I've noticed based on TV and radio reports is that men think Serena was out of order and women don't - almost to a man (or woman). I even argued about this with my wife who thinks it must be sexism because Serena has 'total integrity'. Well, after today I'm afraid the answer is no. Serena is the ultimate sportswoman and for that she deserves the respect of women and men alike. But her behaviour was unforgivable. She was called out on receiving instruction and, whether or not she took it, that makes her responsible. But she went into a tantrum. Totally lost it. She then smashed her racquet. Then she called the umpire a liar. The superbrat had nothing on this lady!
But the most depressing aspect of this affair is that the sisterhood closed ranks to defend her and denounce the enemy, the 'enemy' being the male of the species. In many areas of modern society, women have grounds for complaint when it comes to inequality, but surely not on the tennis court, where, in the top tournaments, female players are paid the same as their male counterparts for playing a maximum of 3 sets per match compared to 5 played by the men. It's long been accepted that it's the male players who give the crowds greater value for money. So please Serena, and all her supporters, by all mean cry sexism because in most arenas you have a point. But please, don't claim discrimination on the tennis court.

I think it is divided into 4 tbh.
People who think the punishment was correct.
Women who think it was sexist
African Americans who think it was racist.
SJWs who think it was sexist, racist and whatever other angle they can make out of it.

The cartoon says it all !

One final point on this, the claims of sexism are just ridiculous. Considering this would of benefited her competitor who is also a woman.

The cartoon isn't sexist either but I am having great fun reading all the comments on Twitter from the professionally offended

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Oooohhh dear , heavens above, what an earth will those beastly Ozzies get up to next !

"Australia’s white-dominated press lacks the racial literacy to see racism and to challenge racists "

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wow way to generalise a whole group of people, you would think a paper like that would be sensitive to tarring a certain group of people with the same brush eh, some idiots in the press really do get paid for doing not so much

As I see it she broke 3 rules got punished & quite rightly so. She over stepped the mark & her attitude was vile, nothing short of a spoilt brat BUT she has a point regarding ref needing to be more consistent across the board.

BUT that can be said in most sports. She needs to suck it up grow a pair & have some dignity

https://www.facebook.com/TYTBreakdown/videos/serena-williams-is-held-to-a-triple-standard-its-bullshit/296456747834046/

This was the point I was making yesterday.

also the people attacking the cartoon guy he made one of nick kyrgios before the tournament about how the umpire pep talked him/compared to what should have happened

Great cartoon, & just about sums it up perfectly, vile creature, never liked her.. & guess what... you ain't the only woman to have a kid !

Pretty rich of Serena Williams accusing others of cheating when he has been winning the women's grand slam all these years

Serena = McCains ..... both shoulders