Serena Williams refuses to back down over controversial claims
Serena Williams has broken her week-long silence since the US Open final, doubling down on her controversial comments.
Serena has opened up in her first interview since accusing umpire Carlos Ramos of sexism, insisting she did not conspire to cheat with her coach.
Williams labelled Ramos a ‘thief’ and ‘liar’ after she was given a warning for receiving coaching from her box in the second set of the final.
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Discussing the incident in a preview clip on The Sunday Project, the 23-time grand slam champion insisted she did not receive help from coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Williams said of Mouratoglou: “He said he made a motion, I don’t understand what he was talking about. We’ve never had signals.”
Serena accused Ramos of sexism, claiming a man wouldn’t have received the same treatment.
“I just don’t understand,” she said. “If you’re a female you should be able to do, even half, of what a guy can do.”
The full interview is set to be aired next Sunday.
Mouratoglou admitted he was coaching Williams, but said she didn’t look at him, adding that Osaka’s coach was also coaching her.
Serena was penalised by the umpire and handed a $24,000 fine for three code violations.
He alleged that she had broken the rules by receiving coaching, and gave her subsequent code violations for smashing her racquet and for verbally abusing him.
Billie Jean King, who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and fought for equal rights in tennis, backed Williams’ stance.
“Several things went very wrong during the match,” King tweeted.
“Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalised for the actions of her coach. This should not happen.”
In a second tweet, King said: “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalised for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ & and there are no repercussions.
“Thank you (Serena Williams) for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”