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ZADAR, Croatia – Serena Williams does not get much support from men in the Davis Cup team in the US for her insinuation that sexism played a role in the code violations received during the final of the US Open.
Meanwhile, Steve Johnson, Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison are doing their best to stay out of the debate since Carlos Ramos, the chair umpire who penalized Williams, will also play his semi-finals against Croatia this weekend.
A caricature of Serena Williams, who was widely condemned as a racist representation of great tennis, was partially reprinted on the front page of the Melbourne-based newspaper that originally published it.
The chair umpires and other officials are shaken by what they perceive as a lack of official support to the chair referee Carlos Ramos, knowing that his actions against Serena Williams in Saturday's women's final the US Open were well in the rules.
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The International Tennis Federation defended Carlos Ramos, the chair umpire who gave Serena Williams three code violations in the US Open final, claiming that his "decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules" .
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"He has been polarized and in some ways politicized," US Captain Jim Courier told The Associated Press on Thursday. "But we have no doubt that Carlos was only applying the rules as he sees them."
Williams was the victim of three code violations by Ramos in Saturday's loss to Naomi Osaka.
"Look, I do not want it to get out of the way," Johnson said. "But he has imposed rules that have been imposed over the years.
"I've never been called for coaching, but racket abuse, verbal abuse," added Johnson. "It's part of the sport, I think a lot of things may have grown too much because it was the final of the US Open."
USTA President and CEO Katrina Adams was excused by Ramos on the sidelines of the draw ceremony. A spokesman for the USTA said that Adams was not talking to the media, while Ramos was not available for questions.
Courier said that there was nothing to discuss with his team on Ramos.
"We are here to play, Carlos is here to referee and we are not expecting anything ordinary," Courier said.
While Ramos is known for his respect for the rules, the US team will not have to worry about coaching violations as captains sit in court during Davis Cup games and are allowed to give advice throughout the match.
During the final against Osaka, Williams received a warning for violating a rule rarely imposed prohibiting coaching on the sidelines. Williams, indignant, defended himself categorically, denying having cheated. Shortly after, she broke her racket in frustration and was docked to a point. She protested and apologized to the referee, who penalized him for a match.
"He has always been a fair and balanced guy and made a decision in the heat of the moment.If that was wrong or fair, I am not the judge," said Bryan, a specialist in double.
"I think we're all aware of the fact that three strikes and you're going to get a match penalty," added Bryan. "I do not think we'd ever try to push that far, especially in this Davis Cup format – we're not going to anchor our country in a game. You do not really rack up rackets and do not stop the referees in this format, you sort of look at your team for support. "
Croatia's best player Marin Cilic only had respect for Ramos. Although Cilic, the champion of the US Open 2014, noted, "I'm not a guy who gets too many code violations, I'm pretty cool."
Harrison, 51st in the standings, who was named as late replacement for Jack Sock, said the women's final "was very tricky".
"It's hard to say one side or the other without causing a big stir," Harrison said. "In a situation where we know that Serena is incredible, she is iconic and we know that Carlos is there because he is worthy of being there for those matches."
"I know Carlos and I know he's not trying to put himself in a difficult position, I really think he was trying to do what he thought was right then and always in hot situations, is going to be very tacky every time it's in a grand slam final like that. "
Against Croatia, Johnson will have to face Borna Coric in the opening match on Friday, followed by Cilic against Davis Cup debutant, Frances Tiafoe.
In Saturday's doubles, Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic will face Bryan and Harrison. Inverted singles are Sunday.
The winner will meet France or Spain in the final.
Americans miss their top two players: No. 10 John Isner stays home while his wife waits for the birth of their child, and Sock is injured in the hip on the way to win the US Open double title with Bryan.
"The only thing we know about the Davis Cup is that rankings rarely matter," said Courier. "The Davis Cup is highly unpredictable and playing for your country can affect people in different ways, shapes and forms."
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