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After the U.S Open final and a loss to Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams was hit with what many are calling unfair fines totaling $17,000 for three code violations.
No one is arguing that Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner and multimillionaire, can't afford the fines but they are taking exception to them on principle. The fines were broken down to $10,000 for "verbal abuse", $4,000 for coaching, and $3,000 for smashing her racket. The money is said to be deducted from her $1.85 million prize money.
Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams' coach, pointed out the hypocrisy for one of the fines, saying:
I'm honest, I was coaching. I don't think she looked at me so that's why she didn't even think I was but I was, like 100 percent of the coaches in 100 percent of the matches so we have to stop this hypocritical thing.
Mouratoglou pointed out the difference in treatment Rafael Nadal received from Carlos Ramos (the same official):
[Nadal's uncle] Toni's coaching every single point and [Ramos] never gave a warning, so I don't really get it.
BREAKING: Serena Williams has been fined a total of $17,000 for three code violations during the U.S. Open final.— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press)1536508297.0
Mouratoglou wasn't the only one who didn't get it. Twitter was having a hard time with the hypocrisy.
@AP Fined for 3 code violations or fined for standing up for herself as a woman?— Nicole Swiers (@Nicole Swiers)1536508372.0
@AP This same referee has taken an awful lot of worse comments from men in the sport and done nothing. Nadal told R… https://t.co/xsC5hxFzdC— Natalie (@Natalie)1536511129.0
@AP John McEnroe lost his mind every game but when Serena does it, the tennis world is offended???— S D Voter (@S D Voter)1536509012.0
@AP Let’s see... if I add the gender wage gap, and then carry the one... we’ve got trash 👎🏾— Adrienne Lawrence (@Adrienne Lawrence)1536509404.0
For her part, Williams carried on the fight for the next in line.
Everyone should listen to this from Serena Williams. https://t.co/TF03dhpq2P— Cameron Cox (@Cameron Cox)1536446679.0
One fan sent out a series of tweets pointing out the difference in how players are treated:
Djokovic Gets Into Argument With Same Umpire Carlos Ramos at French Open, multiple violations did not result in doc… https://t.co/xS8GZhRc0p— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536461202.0
Here’s Djokovic again telling Carlos Ramos he’s crap, resulting in multiple verbal warnings and zero point or game… https://t.co/R3mN91vQg7— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536461387.0
And here’s nick telling Ramos his umping is ‘fucking bullshit’ after being given a violation. No game penalty, no p… https://t.co/fj6qQ4Win4— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536461645.0
Another one of nick screaming at Carlos Ramos for a foot fault, no point or game penalty. https://t.co/0PwEmINGWB— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536461767.0
Here’s one from Andy Murray and Ramos, a violation resulting in Andy shouting “stupid umpiring” which does not resu… https://t.co/m6wS58rub5— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536462389.0
Nadal threatens Ramos here, after receiving a time violation. No point or game penalty followed. https://t.co/LPSLQbeX61— Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet? (@Has The Umpire Been Fired Yet?)1536462600.0
Fans were supporting Williams.
@AgentTinsley Apparently Black women aren’t allowed to get angry, and if by chance we do, we had better just suck i… https://t.co/Tgh8rRjZba— #ResistDetroit (@#ResistDetroit)1536530823.0
@AgentTinsley @resist_detroit1 Thank you for this post. The lack of consistency is apparent. Most media would rath… https://t.co/ASdN9DimUv— 🐞𝓛คＤч𝕓ùǤ🐞 (@🐞𝓛คＤч𝕓ùǤ🐞)1536549460.0
@AgentTinsley @LouisXXIV I love receipts. https://t.co/pn6Nv1CXUt— Blackonbothsides (@Blackonbothsides)1536484551.0
Even tennis legend Billie Jean King weighed in.
(1/2) Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women’s Finals today. Coaching on every point should be all… https://t.co/msekQs5rrG— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King)1536459636.0
(2/2) When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “out… https://t.co/oFv3MsVYJs— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King)1536459662.0
Yes, more voices need to do the same.
H/T: The Root, Wall Street Journal