Carlos Ramos ‘likely to take a break’ from Serena Williams matches at Australian Open

Australian Open
Serena Williams rages at umpire

Chair umpire Carlos Ramos is unlikely to officiate Serena Williams’ matches at next year’s Australian Open, according to a report.

The Portuguese national was in charge of the US Open final between Williams and Naomi Osaka with the latter winning the match to secure her maiden Grand Slam.

However, the occasion was overshadowed by Ramos and Williams’ run-in as the chair umpire gave the American code violations for coaching and racket abuse. Things escalated with Williams calling the official a “thief” and liar” and it resulted in a penalty game.

At one point the 23-time Grand Slam winner shouted “you will never do another one of my matches”.

While the WTA has backed Williams, the International Tennis Federation has supported Ramos, who was back on duty during the Davis Cup rubber between Croatia and the United States.

Although Williams hasn’t officially requested that the official be removed from her matches, former professional umpire Richard Ings says Tennis Australia will try to avoid any controversy by keeping them apart.

“Say an umpire has a tough match with a player,” he told the Observer. “The player is angry, blames the umpire, says ‘you will never work a match again’. It is obvious that if the umpire does that player in the next match or next week that there will be a problem. So the umpire will simply take a break from umpiring that player.

“When the pro umpire arrives at a tournament they update the supervisor if there are any players they are having a break from. May be none or one or two, whatever. And the supervisor schedules other qualified umpires that week for those matches.”

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