In incredible scenes at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, Williams, aiming to equal Court’s record of grand slam triumphs, received a series of code violations en route to a 6-2 6-4 defeat to her 20-year-old opponent.
Williams initially felt hard done by when handed a first-set warning for what chair official Carlos Ramos believed to be on-court coaching.
The home favourite was then docked a point for racket abuse, having been broken in the second set, subsequently brandishing Ramos a “liar” and a “thief”, comments which the umpire deemed to be verbal abuse, warranting a game penalty.
Williams felt she had been treated more harshly than a man would in the same situation, but Court had little sympathy for the 36-year-old.
“We always had to go by the rules,” said Court, in quotes reported by The Australian.
“It’s sad for the sport when a player tries to become bigger than the rules.
“Because the young player outplayed her in the first set, I think pressure got her more than anything.”
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