'Don't know who that is': Serena Williams' shot at controversial umpire

Serena Williams punctuated a dominant straight-sets victory over Maria Sharapova in the first round of the US Open with a couple of pointed jabs at her opponent, and chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

Tournament officials announced before the Open began that Ramos would not officiate any matches either Serena or Venus Williams played, after a fiery confrontation between the umpire and Serena Williams marred last year’s US Open final.

Williams completely trounced Sharapova 6-1, 6-1, while her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis O’Hanion, took a mild pot-shot of his own at the Russian from his seat in the stands.

It was Williams who took centre stage after her thumping win though, dropping a trademark no-nonsense answer when asked about Ramos after the game.

“I don’t know who that is,” Williams said.

It was as clear a sign as any that Williams is determined to put the saga behind her, having apologised to 2018 US Open winner Naomi Osaka for the ordeal in the weeks prior.

Williams putting controversy behind her

Osaka defeated Williams 6-2, 6-4, in the 2018 final after the Japanese star was awarded a penalty game by Ramos, handing Osaka a 5-3 lead on her way to victory.

Osaka was booed during the awards ceremony, consoled by a tearful Williams, and told the crowd, "I'm sorry it had to end like this," later calling the moment "bittersweet."

US Tennis Association president Stacey Allaster had announced that Ramos would not umpire any Williams family matches.

"This is our collective decision," she said. "We want to focus on the competition."

During the second set of last year's final, Ramos issued a code violation warning against Serena for coaching, seeing her receive hand signals from coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who was seated in the stands.

Ramos later awarded Osaka a point after calling a code violation on Williams for racquet abuse, prompting complaints from Serena over the earlier warning, saying, "You will never do another one of my matches."

At the next changeover after Osaka broke for a 4-3 lead, Williams called Ramos a "liar" and a "thief" for the lost point. Ramos took those insults as a third code violation and thus handed Osaka a game for a 5-3 lead, Williams arguing to tournament officials to no avail.

WITH AFP