US Open: Serena still intransigent after final scandal

Superstar Serena Williams has been unreasonable in her first interview since her scandalous appearance at the US Open final.

“I just don’t understand,” said the 36-year-old in the Australian television program The Project: “I think it’s important to stand up for what you believe in. Especially if what you believe in can have an impact on the future.”

Williams complained again that she had been severely punished for her insults (“liar”, “thief”) against referee Carlos Ramos. “I’ve seen men call referees other things,” she said. The 23-time major winner also continues to deny the accusation of illegal coaching by her coach Patrick Muratoglou: “I did not understand what he was talking about. We had no signals.”

After the Portuguese Ramos had warned her about illegal coaching at the beginning of the second set, Williams had taken him on verbally in the final in New York against the Japanese Naomi Osaka (2:6, 4:6). For her outbreak, the American received several warnings and finally a prison sentence. After the match, she accused Ramos of sexism.