The final was overshadowed by the incident involving Williams and chair umpire Carlos RamosGETTY IMAGES
Serena Williams started an "overdue conversation on two issues that tennis has dodged for too long" following her loss in the U.S. Open women's final to Naomi Osaka -- a rule book that is "sorely in need of overhaul and capriciously applied" and a "double standard for men and women regarding on-court decorum," according to Liz Clarke of the WASHINGTON POST. The final was overshadowed by the incident involving Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos, and Williams said in her post-match interview, "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. ... He has never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief.'" Billie Jean King, who used her career to "advocate for equal rights, thanked Williams via social media for making the overdue point." She tweeted, "When a woman is emotional, she's 'hysterical' and she's penalized for it. When a man does the same, he's 'outspoken' & there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same." The WTA Tour also "acknowledged Williams's point" in a statement that read, "The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same. We do not believe that this was done (Saturday) night" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/10).
RAMOS ON THE HOT SEAT: In N.Y., Christopher Clarey writes Ramos has "long been willing to enforce the rules by the book with the game's biggest stars, male and female." Though Ramos is "considered a strict umpire, critics say he could have done more to defuse the situation on Saturday." Meanwhile, USTA President Katrina Adams yesterday "defended Williams in an interview." Adams said, "I would say (Saturday) night is unfortunate. We have to have consistency, because when you look at what the women, in this case Serena, is feeling, we watch the guys do this all the time. They are badgering the chair umpires on the changeover. Nothing happens." Clarey notes it is "highly unusual for a federation president, particularly one in charge of a Grand Slam tournament, to directly criticize a match official." Adams indicated in the interview that there would be "'conversations' about gender equality and officiating 'in the next week'" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/10). On Long Island, Barbara Barker writes it would have been "incredibly helpful to at least get some clarification from Ramos" on his decisions during Saturday's match. But Ramos was "nowhere to be found after being booed off the court." The "biggest question is whether Ramos would have treated Williams differently if she were a man" (NEWSDAY, 9/10). ESPN's Patrick McEnroe said it is "fair to say that gender bias was at play." McEnroe: "This guy has given violations and warnings to top male players, but he's never given a game penalty in a Grand Slam final" ("GMA,' ABC, 9/10).
HALF THE BATTLE: King in a special to the WASHINGTON POST wrote the "ceiling that women of color face on their path to leadership never felt more impenetrable than it did" on Saturday. The match was "overshadowed by an archaic tennis rule that eventually led to an abuse of power." Ramos "crossed the line." King: "Did Ramos treat Williams differently than male players have been treated? I think he did." Women are "treated differently in most arenas of life," and this is "especially true for women of color." What played out on the court Saturday "happens far too often" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/9). THE UNDEFEATED's Lonnae O'Neal wrote the "fear of an angry black woman is as old as the republic" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 9/9).
