Serena Williams Unfairly Fined $17K For Standing Up For Herself At US Open

Serena Williams has been fined $17,000 for three violations after speaking out against unfair calls during her Saturday loss in the US Open women’s final to Naomi Osaka.

Chair umpire Carlos Ramos gave Williams two warnings for coaching and smashing her racket during the second set. Williams argued with Ramos over what she felt was unfair treatment.

“He never took a game from a man because he said ‘thief,’” she said during a press conference after the match. “For me, it blows my mind, but I’m going to continue to fight for women. The fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person.”

Now the Associated Press is reporting that the tournament referee’s office docked Williams $10,000 for “verbal abuse” of chair umpire Carlos Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching, and $3,000 for breaking her racket.

Ramos gave Williams her first violation when he accused her of getting illegal coaching from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou during the second set.

“One thing I’ve never done is cheat. If he gives me a thumbs up, he’s telling me to come on. We don’t have any code, and I know you don’t know that. And I understand why you may have thought that was coaching, but I’m telling you it’s not. I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose,” she told Ramos on the court.

Williams has issued a second violation for smashing her racket after Osaka broke her serve. The violation automatically cost her a point.

In response, Williams called Ramos “a thief,” drawing the third violation for “verbal abuse.” This cost her a game, putting Osaka further ahead.

Williams has yet to respond to the fines. The money will come out of her prize money of $1.85 million as the runner-up to Osaka.