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The confrontation between Serena Williams and the referee of Saturday's US Open final included a crushed beating and accusations that he was a "thief."
What is the rule?
In short, players are not allowed to be coached during a Grand Slam match. According to the 2018 Grand Slam Rules: "Players will not receive coaching during a match (including warm-up)."
What happened on Saturday?
Chair umpire Carlos Ramos, known for being a brawler, spotted Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou in the stands. Taking this as a coaching, he evaluated a "code violation", essentially a warning.
Williams, playing Naomi Osaka, later broke his racket, which is an automatic violation of the code. Because it was his second, it resulted in a points penalty. Williams, in a prolonged and hot warning, charged Ramos with stealing the point, leading to a third violation for verbal abuse and the loss of a game. Williams eventually lost the match against Osaka, 6-2, 6-4.
Mouratoglou was he guilty?
He seemed to admit so much, saying on ESPN: "I was coach, but I do not think she watched me." He added that the coach Osaka "was training all the time too. the weather."
Williams disagreed, telling reporters, "We do not have signals. We have never discussed signals. I'm trying to understand why he would say that. "
Can coaches offer encouragement?
It's a gray area. The applause and applause of a coach are not usually considered as coaching. Although the rule is formulated strictly: "Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach can be interpreted as an accompaniment".
How often is the rule applied?
Sometimes. ESPN reported that at least two other players was quoted at the US Open. In total, 86 violations of all kinds were committed against men against 22 for women.
What about regular tournaments?
The men's round does not allow to frame in match. The next generation finals, for top men 21 and under, experienced last year with players talking to their coaches through headphones at the end of each series.
Could the referee have done things differently?
Many thought that Ramos should have moved more slowly down the sanctions ladder, perhaps starting with a lighter warning about coaching. Martina Navratilova suggested "a soft warning" before the real warning so that the player has a chance to "muzzle" the coach. If this had been done, nothing could have followed – but we will never know.
The International Tennis Federation on Monday defended the referee: "Mr. Ramos has discharged his duties as a public servant in accordance with the regulations in force and has always acted with professionalism and integrity.
Is the change coming?
May be. The WTA has requested that training be allowed through the sport. Billie Jean King wrote in the Washington Post: "If tennis caught up with the 21st century and allowed coaching on all points, the situation on the court would never have reached the level of absurdity.
The US Tennis Association, led by Stacey Allaster, its general manager for professional tennis, campaigned for match training at the Grand Slam level. The American Open has used it in junior competitions and qualifying events, but Wimbledon remains strongly opposed to the concept.
The director of the Australian Open tournament, Craig Tiley, told Reuters: "The sport really has to get by with coaching. Are we going to have coaching? Are not we going to have coaching? What will it look like? The sport has to come together and solve the problem. Once everything is settled, we do not have the problem.
Christopher Clarey contributed to the report.
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