Tennis: WTA call for coaching to be allowed

Serena Williams argues with the chair umpire during a match against Naomi Osaka. Photo / AP

The WTA is calling for equal treatment of all tennis players and coaching to be allowed across the sport in the aftermath of the US Open final.

Serena Williams was given three code violations by chair umpire Carlos Ramos in her 6-2 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka on Sunday, and critics inside and outside tennis argued that she was not treated the same as some male players.

The women's pro tour agreed.

"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 (in the final)," chief executive Steve Simon said in a statement.

The first violation given to Williams was for coaching, which isn't allowed during any men's matches but is permitted on the women's tour except in grand slam tournaments.

Though Williams said she follows the rules and never receives it during a match, Patrick Mouratoglou acknowledged that he does it and says it's well known throughout the sport that all coaches do.

"We also think the issue of coaching needs to be addressed and should be allowed across the sport," Simon said.

"The WTA supports coaching through its on-court coaching rule, but further review is needed."

Men's champion Novak Djokovic said he thinks the chair umpire interfered too much in the women's final.

But he stopped short of saying men and women are treated differently.

Djokovic says Carlos Ramos "just maybe changed - not maybe, but he did change the course of the match".

Djokovic said he thought Ramos' involvement was "unnecessary."

But he disagreed with Simon, who said men and women should be treated equally but that wasn't the case at the weekend.

- AP