Just when we thought the storm had subsided from the Kyrgios' match, all hell broke loose yesterday in the women's singles final with Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. Now that Facebook and all social media is on fire with comments about the incident we thought it would be interesting to get viewpoints from officials...
We would welcome all comments but here are some things to consider:
* The warning for coaching was warranted but was it necessary? Most anytime you see a camera on a coach he/she is signaling their player something. In this case, Serena was 100 yards away and couldn't even see his hands.
* The point penalty for smashing the racket was also warranted but the question quickly arises, "Are the men coded the same for the same offense?" We have all see the men breaking rackets left and right and we keep listening for those famous words, "Code Violation!" but alas, nothing comes.
* The game penalty for Serena calling him a thief was sketchy at best. We've all heard men calling the chair official a f___ing idiot and worse and nothing is ever done. Remember--what's good for the goose is also good for the gander. If you don't penalize the men, then you shouldn't penalize the women.
All of the above offenses are legitimate violations but were they done with wisdom and insight? Probably not. When the winner of a match receives over $3.5 million, then it is absolutely imperative that the official rule fairly, consistently, and not inject himself into the match. Unfortunately, in this case, that wasn't true. One once wisely said, "A wise person will choose the hills upon which they wish to die," and that advise would have been well-heeded in this instance.
The overriding issue in this has become was this a sexist action by the chair official... I would hardly say the official was a sexist pig but I tend to think the rules were enforced differently for a woman than for a man. I'm ALL FOR ENFORCING THE RULES but we need to do it fairly, consistently, and without prejudice.
Feel free to comment--we would love to hear your thoughts on this one...
13 comments:
This official applied the rules as they are written in the rule book. I think you should be asking why the rules are not being enforced on the mens side? Do those officials have no spine? Or are they told to let the players act out for viewership/ratings?
This official is going to be attacked for doing his job. If you are not going to do the job, let's get rid of the chair altogether.
I'm ALL FOR ENFORCING THE RULES but we need to do it fairly, consistently, and without prejudice.
I agree with this 100%. If there is a rule it should be enforced 100% of the time or it’s not a rule. It’s a suggestion. If coaches can’t follow the rules don’t allow them near the court. If a player/coach continues breaking them rule suspend them. If you want rules to be followed the consequence has to out weigh the benefit of breaking that rule.
The author of this piece appears to be a Serena fan and like all the boohooing onlookers last night who were more upset that they couldn't tell the story of how they were there when Serena set a new record... tend to embellish.
No, Serena wasn't 100 yards away, that's not possible. Yes her coach admitted to signalling, all coaches do at some time or another. Sexist? Hmmmm, no. Her mouth couldn't find the off switch, she earned the code. At least the men shut up after an insult... constant yammering beg tge question and she got her answer.
I say sour grapes to haters and Serena herself. Her behavior is certainly codable. And since you mentioned money... what a farce! If women want equal pay for equal work... scientifically and chronologically.. it will never happen ... certainly not with a 2/3 format and absolutely not without faster female players that hit the ball harder and for more strokes. Didn't see a single female match last 4 hours... saw several that pushed that Mark on the mens side.
But I digress...
Serena pushed the envelope trying to upstage the chair "demanding a public apology".. she smashed her racquet on court setting a terrible example for the public, and her coach was cheating. Combine t gat with a strong opponent who was winning... game set and match Osaka!
The chair gave her a chance to stifle herself... she chose not to. Goid job by the chair.
The 100 yards away was the figure that the commentators used and since they are infallible, I trusted what they said. Rules were broken and should have been penalized but if you aren't going to do it equally and everywhere, then either re-write the rules or ignore them completely. The men come out way ahead on this one. Count up the number of rackets that the men smash in a tournament and compare it to the women and its no contest.
I have seen very few men shut up after a code; in fact, they tend to become more aggressive towards the chair. The "f-word" is their favorite verbiage when talking to the chair and that in itself should be an immediate code--but then, money talks.
I also think this official applied the rules as they are written in the rule book. AND, I think you should be asking why the rules are not being enforced on the men's side? Is that sexist -- most men's matches are chaired by men!! This was, at least, a man chairing a women's match.
I think Serena got what she deserved. If you look back to 2004 and 2009, it appears we have a definite pattern on display here; when she is winning, all is fine; when she is losing, she shows the world her "lack of anger management" skills. Once, maybe okay, but two and then three times? Personally, I am embarrassed to say she represents USA tennis. That was certainly not an example of good sportsmanship, which she continued and continued to display. Feels to me like she could have easily been DQ'd for unsportsmanship conduct. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. She needs to either play the game appropriately or get off the court.
On another issue, shame on the USTA for allowing Nadal to wear is "muscle" shirt. I have never been at even a country club that allows that kind of dress, and I am surprised that the USTA, at one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, and internationally viewed, did not take a position on his attire. I say, "wear in on the beach" or don't get on court. ALL the other men in the tournament looked great, except him. So with that being said, is it sexist to code a woman for changing her shirt on court, when in fact she is more covered than the men changing their shirts on court?????
The 2018 US Open Women's Finals was a game of tennis, with respective rules. Serena Williams received the penalties she should have received.
Carlos Ramos did an excellent job in the chair. I hope he feels this way.
The match played out as it should have; fairly. There was no sexism in this match.
I hope this sets the standard that rules and code violations should be implemented and that there is no place for rude and unsportsmanlike conduct and that it will not be tolerated. Good for the official setting precedent even at a grand slam title.
Serena called the umpire a liar and he did not say anything, then she continued, she knew she was going to lose anyway. She did acknowledge she was wrong when asking the crowd to stop booing.
There never would have been a problem if the original coaching call had not been made. Since almost everyone knows coaching happens and is never called, it seems odd that it would be suddenly be called in the U S Open final. Had it not been called, a warning would have been called later and that's it.
The same rules should be applied for all. It's easy to blame sex, color, etc. but the bottom line is follow the rules, keep your mouth shut, be a good role model, and be thankful for your opportunities!
Seran got busted for her disrespect towards the official and throwing a hissy fit, fine so be it I come to expect that from her when she is losing, what I do not tolerate or condone is the farce of a USTA President playing protector of Serena and ruining the awards ceremony. Katrina Adams should either go out and officiate some or STHU. Her comments are what set the crowd off during the awards ceremony and ruining Osaka's first Grand Slam.
So tired of the USTA higher ups who have no clue on rules or what it actually takes for officials to remain calm while their integrity is questioned.Maybe it is time for National Office to actually leave their ivory tower and see what the masses have to do.
Coaching is any communication that is given and "received" by a player from a coach parent, friend, anyone. However, what is the evidence that Serena "received" the communication? How do we know she even saw the hand signal that is implicated?
Ramos lost control of the match, plain and simple.
Wow, I really have to disagree with the author of this article. If there's a problem with officials, it's the inconsistency (in enforcement of the rules) from one to the next.
I see this at every level I've worked. At junior tournaments, it's foot faulting (if/when to call, should it depend on the level of the event, been done as a rover or only as a chair umpire, etc.) and code violations (some supervisors don't want the hassle of having to enter the info into tennislink and/or don't want to keep the player from registering for the next tournament. At college, when do you warn/code the coach/player for egregious behavior especially since you probably want to keep working at that school. Again, money talks.
I can tell you that while working a pro event right after the US Open, the players (all male) seemed to be especially disagreeable, seemly testing the limits of the chair umpires 'tolerance' in light of recent events. Not fun.
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