“I don’t know who that is” - When Serena Williams found out controversial umpire Carlos Ramos would not be officiating any of her matches at US Open
Serena Williams refused to acknowledge umpire Carlos Ramos when she learned he would not be officiating any of her matches at the 2019 US Open. Her comments came after her first-round win over Maria Sharapova at the tournament.
The controversy between Williams and Ramos began at the New York Major in 2018, where she lost to Naomi Osaka in the final. The umpire issued a warning to the American legend for allegedly receiving coaching from her then-coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, which she denied.
Later, Williams was penalized a point for smashing her racket in frustration, which led to another argument with Ramos. When she called Ramos a "thief" for taking a point away from her, he issued a game penalty for verbal abuse, putting Osaka up 5-3 in the second set.
The situation escalated, with Serena Williams demanding an apology from Carlos Ramos and later expressing her belief that she was being treated unfairly because she was a woman. The match ended in boos from the crowd, and during the trophy ceremony, Osaka was visibly emotional, even apologizing to the crowd for her victory, though her opponent comforted her and asked the crowd to stop booing.
During the US Open a year later, it was revealed that the USTA had decided that Ramos would not serve as chair umpire for any of the Williams sisters' matches that year. After her win over Sharapova, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was asked about the decision and said:
"I don’t know who that is."
Serena Williams on if she would change anything about US Open 2018 final: "You can't go back in time"
Serena Williams attended a press conference after her loss to Naomi Osaka at the 2018 US Open and discussed the controversy with umpire Carlos Ramos. When asked if she could change anything about the match, she said she couldn't go back in time and pretend that the incident didn't take place.
"You definitely can't go back in time. I can't sit here and say I wouldn't say he's a thief because I thought he took a game from me," Williams said.
The American highlighted what she perceived as gender discrimination and said she would continue to fight for women's rights.
"But I've seen other men call other umpires several things. I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff," the 23-time Major champion said.
"For me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He's never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief,'" she added.