According to tennis’ code of conduct, there are several rules and regulations a tennis player has to keep in mind. One of those being a player is not allowed to receive coaching during a tournament match. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach should be construed as coaching. Coaches and parents on-site are prohibited from:
According to tennis’ code of conduct, there are several rules and regulations a tennis player has to keep in mind. One of those being a player is not allowed to receive coaching during a tournament match. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach should be construed as coaching. Coaches and parents on-site are prohibited from:
► Using an audible obscenity or making obscene gestures of any kind.
► Abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other people, verbally or physically.
► Engaging in conduct contrary to the integrity of the Game of Tennis.
During a tournament, the players are not allowed to violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a racket or other equipment within the limits of the tournament site.
Even a little-angered behaviour towards an official, spectator or opponent is considered a breach of the code of conduct and the player could get a penalty.
Unfortunately, Serena Williams did everything mentioned above and found herself slammed with a point penalty followed by a game penalty before she lost the US Open 2018 final to Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
According to the code of conduct, the first violation results in a warning, the second violation hands the player a point penalty, the third violation results in a game penalty and the fourth could force the player to forfeit the match.
After Serena lost the first set to the 20th seed, chair umpire Carlos Ramos gave Serena the first code violation in the form of a warning early in the second set for getting instructions from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Williams continued protesting to Ramos during a changeover but returned to break Osaka's serve to go 3-1 up in the second set.
But Osaka broke back in the next game and the American smashed her racket in frustration, earning a second code violation and a one-point deduction from Ramos.
The deduction enraged Williams and she screamed at Ramos at the next changeover, drawing the game penalty after she called him a thief.
"I have never cheated in my life," she said. "I have a daughter and I stand for what's right for her. I've never cheated, and you owe me an apology.
"You will never be on another court of mine as long as you live. Say it. Say you're sorry.
"And you stole a point from me. You're a thief."
Afterwards, Williams said Ramos had never taken a game from a man for calling him a thief and referenced Alize Cornet being given a code violation for changing her shirt on court earlier in the tournament as an another example of double standards within the game.
"I can't sit here and say I wouldn't say he's a thief, because I thought he took a game from me," she said. "But I've seen other men call other umpires several things.
"I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.
"He's never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief'. For me, it blows my mind. But I'm going to continue to fight for women and to fight for us to have equal -- like Cornet should be able to take off her shirt without getting a fine.
(With Reuters inputs)
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 "Serena Williams")
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