Carlos Ramos, referee known for his stiffness, lands in the United States

Although Ramos officiated more men's matches during his career, he also officiated in three of the four finals of the women's Grand Slam: the 2005 French Open, Wimbledon in 2008 and the US Open. this year. semi-finals matches in 2014 and 2016.

On Saturday, Mouratoglou admitted giving signals to Williams, although she said she did not see them. Mouratoglou also said that the current rule prohibiting coaching at Grand Slam tournaments (which is allowed in the WTA Tour events) was a gateway to hypocrisy as it was so prevalent despite the rule.

But privately and in public, tennis officials, past and present, defended Ramos on Sunday. Morrissey said that Mouratoglou's training was so obvious that he deserved to be punished immediately.

"I do not think that a clear coaching can be handled this way," Morrissey said of the progressive warning option. "It's so rare to be sure that the soft approach should be reserved in the majority of cases when it's not clear."

With respect to verbal abuse, Morrissey said that Ramos was restrained, not reckless.

"I do not know what was said by Carlos, but I do not think I would have found a good way to remind him of the possibility of penalizing the match without throwing fuel on the fire," Morrissey said. "Maybe there was a way, but given his mood, not easy or unlikely at all."

He added that "the charge of" thief "is not an arbiter that any judge should ignore".

Williams herself said that she had not had any negative experiences when Ramos had been working on her matches in the past.

"Not at all," she said on Saturday. "He has always been a great referee."

But she told Ramos on the court in the heat of the moment that he would never "officiate" one of his matches in the future. Players do not have the power to make these decisions, although the tour supervisors have, in the past, quietly prevented the referees from playing the matches of the players with whom they had had altercations. But these breaks – called "holidays" – are not permanent breaks.

So, Ramos and Williams, who said that this last return is just beginning, could very well end up.