Serena Williams Disputes Coaches Admission Of Coaching Her During US Open Final - UBITENNIS

Serena Williams Disputes Coaches Admission Of Coaching Her During US Open Final

Serena Williams has responded to comments made by Patrick Mouratoglou following her astonishing US Open exit.

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

The renowned partnership between Serena Williams and her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has hit a blip after the two appeared to be at odds ends over if on-court coaching was used during the US Open final.

A massive argument has marred the women’s final between Williams and Japan’s Naomi Osaka. During the start of the second set, the former world No.1 was issued with a warning for on-court coaching. Something she heavily disputed. An emotional and livid Williams engaged in a heated argument with the official over the following games, which eventually resulted in her being handed a game penalty.

An ESPN replay showed that Mouratoglou was making gestures with both his hands by moving them forward. Indicating that Williams should move up further in the court. Although he denies doing it directly towards the 36-year-old. Under grand slam rules, on-court coaching is forbidden

“I’ll be honest, I was coaching. …Sascha (Osaka’s coach), he was coaching too. This umpire has worked Nadal’s matches and Toni was coaching every point.” Mouratoglou told ESPN.

Mouratoglou was then heard telling reporters that he gave some sort of advice to Williams after she received the warning for coaching. He was speaking about the issue moments before Williams conducted her post-match press conference.

“I literally just heard that, too, when they prepped me to come in. I just texted Patrick, like, What is he talking about? Because we don’t have signals. We have never discussed signals. I don’t even call for on-court coaching.” Williams said in response.
“I’m trying to figure out why he would say that. I don’t understand.”

The two were also at odds end over another issue. In a tweet Mouratoglou accused Carlos Ramos, the umpire, of ‘influencing the result’ of the match. Calling for action to be taken in the future. The game penalty occurred when Williams was 3-4 down in the second set.

“The star of the show has been once again the chair umpire.” He wrote.
“Second time in this US Open and third time for Serena in a US Open Final.
“Should they be allowed have an influence on the result of a match?? When do we decide that this should never happen again?”

In contrast, Williams remained open minded about how much the warning influenced the match outcome. Instead, she praised the performance of her 20-year-old rival. Osaka hit 16 winners to 14 unforced errors and saved five out of the six break point’s she faced.

“It’s hard to say because I always fight till the end and I always try to come back, no matter what.” Said Williams. “But she was also playing really, really well. It’s hard to say that I wouldn’t have got a new level, because I’ve done it so many times in my career. So it’s a tough question.”

Williams and Mouratoglou have been working together since September 2012.

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