My response to the ITF Statement on US Open Women's Final 2018 Code Violations


Yesterday, the ITF’s facebook page announced their support1 for the umpire, Carlos Ramos and the decisions he took during the Women’s Final to give Serena Williams code violations. My comment today on their post was:

“No, his decisions were not in accordance with the wording or definitions of the Grand Slam Rulebook 2018, see page 44 under 'Coaches and Coaching'. Serena did not "receive" the coaching nor was there "communications...between" her and her coach. Both Serena (during and post match) and her coach (interview with Pam Shriver) have made that clear, she didn't see him do it. It also says this "may be construed as coaching" - crucial word being may not must! Nowhere does it say you penalise a player for their coach's gesturing etc during a match. Coaching during warm-up or match is not listed as 1 of the 5 things a player is responsible for their coach doing. So it is wrong to penalise Serena for something she did not do or participate in or make her responsible for her coach's actions that he did against her wishes.”



The section I quote from reads:

“L. COACHING AND COACHES

Players shall not receive coaching during a match (including the warm-up). Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be construed as coaching. Players shall also prohibit their coaches (1) from using audible obscenity within the precincts of the tournament site, (2) from making obscene gestures of any kind within the precincts of the tournament site, (3) from verbally abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site, (4) from physically abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site and (5) from giving, making, issuing, authorising or endorsing any public statement within the precincts of the tournament site having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of the tournament and/or of the officiating thereof. Violation of this Section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match (including the warmup), the player shall be penalised in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule hereinafter set forth. In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament, or are singularly egregious, the Referee may order the Coach to be removed from the site of a match or the precincts of the tournament site and upon his failure to comply with such order may declare an immediate default of such player.”

The full Grand Slam Rulebook is available at:




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Giorgi wins Montreal (updated)

Giorgi Wins Montreal Camila Giorgi has won the Montreal title, a WTA 1000 trophy. Huge congratulations to her!🏆 🎾👏👏👏👏💪💪🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🍾🍸🍰I'm delighted!💖🙂Although I'm sad 😥Pliskova lost, nevertheless, congratulations to her for returning to the top 5. Giorgi, however, is short on titles. She only has 3 singles titles to Pliskova's 16. For such a good player matches don't seem to go her way. She has it all, including speed around the court. Her athleticism is beautiful to watch. In many ways, she reminds me of Anna Kournikova who should have won more titles too. What makes Giorgi special is her movement and coordination. There are very few players who grace the court in this way. And she's average height which means she has control over her body which aids her movement. Other players similar to her that spring to mind are: Hingis, Kournikova, Sanchez-Vicario, Henin, Carla Suarez Navarro, Schiavone. There are many players that can run fast on court but Giorgi ...
Read more

Should medics be court-side?

Halep won Montreal, Rogers Cup so congratulations to her. She has certainly settled into the coveted number 1 spot with a strong lead over the number 2 player, Wozniacki.   Both players have won a Grand Slam but what of those who haven’t? All tennis players want to be number 1 in the world which is why it surprises me that they don’t enjoy the same privileges as those who win Grand Slams. Maybe one day this will change because it is a fantastic achievement and should be celebrated accordingly! Last week presented us with an agonizing example of how easily players can become injured and how this impacts on their ranking/career. Buzarnescu, after many years of struggling with injuries, finally made it to a well-deserved number 20 in the world. She was on the up. The week before she won her first title! All that changed last week during her match with Svitolina. Running impressively for a backhand, her ankle went and she was left screaming in agony. Not something spectators wish ...
Read more

Not again, Martina!

Image
© Jana Kaucky 2023 All Rights Reserved Caption: 'What on Earth?!' "Alcaraz stated that the Czech-American tennis legend’s advice came in handy as was seen promptly implementing the strategy during his Wimbledon final against Djokovic. “(The advice helped me) a lot,” he said on Tennis Channel. The 20-year-old said that he thanked Martina Navratilova for her advice when they crossed paths after his victory. “I saw her after I got out from the court. And I told her, ‘It was your advice! The key.’ I sliced. I tried to do everything she told me. I mean, nine times champion – You have to do whatever she tells you. And I think it was great,” he said." Quoted from  sportskeeda Not again. Every time Martina gives a player advice before a final they win at Wimbledon and this has happened on several occasions now. She 'advised' Kerber in an article right before that Wimbledon final and she won, denying Serena her 24th Grand Slam by using her tactics. It's unfair she ...
Read more