Connect with us

SPORTS

Serena ‘out of line’ but both sides share blame, says King

Published

on

Serena returns to Wimbledon seeking 8th title

Former world number one Billie Jean King has softened her initial stance on the controversy over Serena Williams, who was “totally out of line” when she vehemently disputed calls by chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

The altercation happened during Saturday’s U.S. Open final.

Ramos, however, could have prevented the affair had he communicated better and given Williams a ‘soft warning’, instead of a code violation when he saw her Coach Patrick Mouratoglou giving signals during the match, King said.

Williams was issued a warning, point and then game penalty after she argued with Ramos during the final, which was won 6-2 6-4 by Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

“Serena was out of line. There’s no question,” King told CNN on Tuesday. “No one is saying she was a good sport. If they are they are crazy.

“She was totally out of line. She knows it.”

King’s remarks to CNN were something of a walk back of her earlier comments, when she said in a Washington Post editorial that Williams had faced down sexism with her protests.

She also did not criticize Williams’ on-court behavior.

King, however, said Williams was not aware she had been handed a first violation and was surprised to have a point taken from her, when she received a second for later smashing her racquet.

The loss of the point prompted Williams to call Ramos a “thief”, which led to a third violation for verbal abuse that resulted in the umpire issuing a game penalty.

“Although he could have prevented the incident from escalating, King said.

“The point is he (aggravated) the situation. ‘I’m not attacking your character,’ is the most important thing he could have said,” King told CNN.

“I think everything would have been different.”

King said she hoped the incident would bring about needed changes to the sport, including allowing for direct communication between the umpire and the fans, over a loudspeaker and ending the ban on coaching during Grand Slam matches.

“Crisis creates an opportunity to get it right,” she said.

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel