Serena Williams’ claims of sexism after her US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka earlier this month have divided opinion on the women’s WTA Tour.
Japan’s Osaka won the September 8 final 6-2,6-4 after a match which saw Williams warned for coaching, penalized a point for smashing her racket and then docked a game for an outburst in which she called the umpire, Carlos Ramos, a « thief » and a « liar. »
The American, who told Ramos she « never cheated » and « would rather lose » than be coached, later accused the Portuguese of sexism, saying several male players had behaved and said much worse but not been punished as harshly.
Read: US Open umpire ‘thrown under the bus’ in Serena row
However, Halep came to the defense of Ramos, saying he had acted correctly.
« The rules are the rules, » Halep, this year’s French Open winner, told CNN Sport in an interview in Wuhan, China. « I don’t see any difference between the men’s rules and women’s rules, and I think the chair umpires are doing just their jobs. »
As for Ramos, Halep said: « I never had any problems with him, or with any umpire. I also got fines, when I had to. It’s normal. »
‘No difference’
Kvitova and French No. 1 Caroline Garcia also told CNN Sport they had not experienced any differential treatment.
« I don’t see the difference, to be honest, » said Kvitova, who was surprised someone as experienced as Williams had reacted so strongly to the coaching violation.
« Sometimes, when you get the violation, it is just a violation, and it is nothing, at the end of the day, » said the fifth-ranked Czech. « I got so many violations when I was a kid, I got a coaching violation as well, but it’s OK.
« You get it, and you can’t do anything with it, and sometimes it’s tough, but you can’t get interrupted by that. »
Garcia, the French No 1, agreed. « I think umpires treat women and men the same way, from my own experience. I think if a player got angry and reacted like she did in the final, they would get the same penalty, I am pretty sure. »
‘Serena has a point’
World No 2 Wozniacki said she understood where Williams, a long-time friend, was coming from.
