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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 18 WTA chief backs Serena AFP | New York erena Williams’s claim that Aussie Open chief the code violations that Ssparked her meltdown in urges coaching clarity the US Open final were sexist stirred debate, with WTA Tour chief executive Steve Simon after Serena row backing her on Sunday. Williams was handed three code violations -- and docked a point and then a game -- in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in the Flushing Meadows final. Osaka out-played her child- hood hero to become the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam, but her accomplishment was swamped in the controver- sy surrounding 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams. The American superstar Serena Williams pleads her case with tournament referee Brian Earley claimed that chair umpire Car- los Ramos meted out penalties for infractions that male players received -- for coaching from double standard. More voices Serena Williams takes a break during a changeover could have gotten away with, her box. are needed to do the same.” specifically a violation for ver- It’s not clear if she even saw National Organization of AFP | Melbourne, Australia tournaments, remained a grey bal abuse after she called him the hand gestures by coach Pat- The WTA believes Women president Toni Van Pelt area. a “thief” and a “liar” for warn- rick Mouratoglou sitting her that there should weighed in with a statement orld tennis chiefs need “It all centred around coach- ing her for coaching from her box, although he admitted in an calling for the USTA to sever any Wto clarify their position ing... the sport has to really get players’ box, then docking her interview with ESPN that he was be no difference in ties to Ramos for “a blatantly on in-match coaching to pre- itself sorted out on what it does a point when a racquet abuse trying to advise her -- and said the standards of racist and sexist move”. vent another incident after Ser- with coaching,” he said. violation followed. all coaches do it. tolerance provided Williams’s pleas to referee ena Williams’ meltdown, the “Are we going to have coach- Eventually she was docked to the emotions Brian Earley and a Grand Slam head of the Australian Open ing? Are we not going to have a game -- putting Osaka on the Coaching ‘hypocrisy’ expressed by men supervisor -- called to the court said yesterday. coaching? What is it going to brink of victory. “Yes, I was coaching just like vs. women and after she failed to get satisfaction Australian Open tournament look like? Simon said the affair brought everybody else. We have to stop is committed to from Ramos -- were to no avail. director Craig Tiley said coach- “The sport needs to get to- to the forefront the question of this hypocrisy. Furthermore, The USTA said in a statement ing, which is allowed a Wom- gether and sort it out. Once whether different standards are Serena didn’t even see my ges- working with the after the match that the decision en’s Tennis Association events that’s sorted out, we don’t have applied to men and women in tures. She felt humiliated by the sport to ensure to hand out the final code viola- but not at men’s or Grand Slam the issue.” the officiating of matches. warning,” said the Frenchman. that all players are tion and game penalty was “not “The WTA believes that there Simon said the sport as a treated the same reviewable”. should be no difference in the whole should examine the rules STEVE SIMON “Because I’m a woman you’re ovic treaded warily when asked “He did change the course of standards of tolerance provided on coaching, noting that the WTA going to do this to me,” she to weigh in on matter. the match. It was, in my opinion, to the emotions expressed by already allows on-court coach- fumed on court and after the Djokovic noted that it was an maybe unnecessary. We all go men vs. women and is commit- ing during regular tour events match Williams didn’t walk back “awkward situation” for both through our emotions, especially ted to working with the sport to -- if a player requests it. that charge. competitors and “tough” for the when you’re fighting for a Grand ensure that all players are treat- US great Billie Jean King ad- “I’ve seen other men call other umpire. Slam trophy. ed the same,” he said. dressed both issues, also seeing umpires several things,” she said. “I have my personal opinion However, he said he wasn’t “We do not believe that this things Williams’s way. “When a man does the same, he’s “I’m here fighting for women’s that maybe the chair umpire sure sexism was at the root of was done last night.” “When a woman is emotion- ‘outspoken’ & and there are no rights and for women’s equality should not have pushed Serena Ramos’s decisions. Williams was most incensed al, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s repercussions. Thank you, @ser- and for all kinds of stuff.” to the limit, especially in a Grand “It’s hard to generalize things,” by the first code violation she penalized for it,” King tweeted. enawilliams, for calling out this Men’s champion Novak Djok- Slam final,” he said. he said. US Open champion Djokovic: ‘I owe Federer, Nadal’ AFP | New York these guys, rivalries with these guys, matches with Federer and ovak Djokovic was thrilled Nadal, have made me the player Nto match Pete Sampras with I am, have shaped me into the a 14th Grand Slam title, but he player I am today. said it’s Roger Federer and Ra- “I owe it to them.” fael Nadal who have made him Although he was riding high the player he is. coming into the Open, Djokovic “Pete Sampras is one of the was among the many struggling biggest legends ever to play the with crushing heat and humidity game,” Djokovic said after earn- in the first week. ing the crown. He needed four sets to get past “He was my childhood idol. 41st-ranked Hungarian Marton He was someone I was looking Fucsovics in the first round and up to. The first actual thing I saw another to get past 61st-ranked related to tennis on the TV was American Tennys Sandgren in his first or second Wimbledon the second. championship. That inspired me He picked up the pace with to start playing tennis. straight-sets victories over “There is a lot of significance France’s Richard Gasquet, Por- of me being now shoulder to tugal’s Joao Sousa, Millman and shoulder in terms of Grand Slam 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori to wins with him.” arrive at a title tilt with good The victory puts Djokovic friend Del Potro. three Slam wins away from Na- After seizing an early break dal’s 17 and six behind Federer’s in the second set, Djokovic sud- record 20. denly found himself on the run, It will also see him rise to dropping three straight games number three in the world be- before he dug in to salvage a hind Nadal and Federer -- the service hold in a 20-minute mar- rankings again reflecting the US Open Men’s Singles Champion Novak Djokovic with his trophy athon game that went to deuce “Big Three” status they have eight times. shared for so long. slump with an unexpected Wim- Djokovic faced neither of his Australian stunned the Swiss early in his career that wasn’t The crowd was roaring for Djokovic had tumbled down bledon title he has gone from greatest rivals en route to the great. always the case. sentimental favourite Del Potro the rankings, slowed last year strength to strength, adding a title in Flushing Meadows. Nadal hobbled out of a semi-fi- “Maybe 10 years ago I would -- shut out of Grand Slam finals by an elbow injury and a loss of long-awaited Cincinnati Masters Seeded to face Federer in the nal match against Del Potro after say I’m not so happy to be part of since his 2009 US Open triumph. confidence that accompanied a title to his resume before adding quarter-finals, he found himself two sets. Djokovic would have this era with Nadal and Federer,” Djokovic said it was the 54-week title drought. the US Open title to those he won instead across the net from John relished taking on either -- or he said. kind of heavyweight clash he’s Since bursting out of the in 2011 and 2015. Millman after the unheralded both, although he admits that “Today I really am. I feel like learned to embrace..

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