[Erica Hill, Cnn Anchor:] Serena Williams says she is proud of her behavior during that U.S. Open upset last night. The historic win for Japan's Naomi Osaka overshadowed, in large part, by the confrontations between Serena Williams and the umpire who penalized her a point and an entire game after she called him a thief at one point. Williams in tears pleading with officials, insisting men do and say far worse on the court without punishment.
[Serena Williams, Table Tennis Player, United States Open Tennis Championships:] It's not right. That is not right. This is not fair.
[Unidentified Male:] OK. For calling you a thief.
[Williams:] That's not right. He thinks I'm a cheater.
[Hill:] In the end, the final score of that match six-two, six-four, Osaka. Serena, though, venting more of her frustration. She didn't say much at the trophy presentation, saying she wanted it to be about Naomi Osaka, a 20-year-old, her first Grand Slam title. But during the post-match press conference, Serena she did talk a little more.
[Williams:] I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff. And for me to say thief and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. I mean, like, how he never took a game from man because they said, thief. For me, it blows my mind.
[Hill:] Joining us now, ESPN tennis analyst Rennae Stubbs who is also a U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion, a four-time Olympian. It's so great to have you here. Listen, you've won the Open. You it's not your only Grand Slam title, as we mentioned. Do you agree with Serena? Is there a double standard on the court?
[Rennae Stubbs, Espn Commentator:] Listen, this, obviously, is being talked about a lot over the last 24 hours, particularly with us at ESPN, with our crew. I think that the bottom line is the umpire overstepped his boundary at the start of this match when he gave the warning for the coaching. We all know that there's coaching going on from the sidelines. What Patrick Mouratoglou did with the innocuous movement with the hands is so something that should have really been let go of. And I think that was the problem from the beginning. I think he should have said to Serena, I saw Patrick. It would have given Serena an opportunity to say what she did once the warning was given, which was he never coaches me. I don't look at him. I'm not somebody who cheats. And I think once Serena felt that she was being unfairly treated at that moment by getting a warning for something she doesn't do she's not known to be a cheater and certainly not
[Hill:] Right. And that's what she was trying to explain to him.
[Stubbs:] And she was
[Hill:] Hey, I just want you to know we don't do this.
[Stubbs:] Yes, she was so upset. And I think the one thing I want to know from Serena is, did she think that he was going to take that warning away once she sort of made the argument to him on the changeover? So then when she broke the racket for the second warning and then she didn't even realize that she had a point penalty. You know, as a player, once you get that second warning, there's a point penalty. She walked down the other end and actually walked to the first court. You should have walked to the second court knowing that you've had a second warning. So I wonder if she even realized that he didn't take the warning away. As a player, you know.
[Hill:] Yes.
[Stubbs:] Once a warning is given, it's on the books. Then she should have known. So she was very careful, I believe, in the third instance when was going at him at the chair
[Hill:] Yes.
[Stubbs:] to not swear, to not say anything that would've given her another warning because then she knows possibly it's a game or the match. So she was very, very understanding of that rule. And I think what she said, in my opinion, was a little innocuous. I mean, that was something that a lot of other players, particularly men, have sworn at him
[Hill:] Right.
[Stubbs:] have said things to him in the past and have not got a warning. This is not about taking the game. This is about giving a warning.
[Hill:] Right.
[Stubbs:] The cumulative effect of that was the game.
[Hill:] Is the game.
[Stubbs:] And that's why the crowd was so upset as well.
[Hill:] You know, a number of men I mean, I spoke with James Blake earlier. He was one of them. He said, look, I've done far worse things. I mean, there are plenty of examples we can all point to, but a lot of men have come out, you know, even on social media, and said she's absolutely right. You know, I have done worse. It's interesting as we talk the umpire. Sally Jenkins wrote this morning in "The Washington Post." I'm going to just quote a little bit here, but she was talking specifically about Carlos Ramos in his role saying, he took what began as a minor infraction to your point and turned it into one of the nastiest and most emotional controversies in the history of tennis all because he couldn't take a woman speaking sharply to him. She goes on to say, all good umpires in every sport understand the heart of their job is to help temper the moment and to be quiet stewards of the event rather than to let their own temper play a role; going on to say, he made himself the chief player in the women's final. Would you agree with that assessment?
[Stubbs:] One hundred percent. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind what Sally wrote was perfect because in that instance and I've talked to a bunch of umpires that have done very big matches in the last 24 hours. And one of the things that you have to understand as an umpire, the moment. You have to understand the player. You have to understand the time that it's happening. And I think the first warning for the umpire for giving the coaching was the worst decision that he has made in a long time. I've had him as an umpire. I've actually sworn on the court in an instance where he didn't give me a warning. So we've all had our instances with him where it's a little ambiguous. And that's the problem with the umpires, is that there's too much ambiguity. And that's where you heard Patrick Mouratoglou say Rafa's coach coaches all the time.
[Hill:] Right.
[Stubbs:] And Sasha was coaching from the other end. And that's the problem. And I think for Serena, who is somebody who is not known to not get a lot coaching from the side of the court she doesn't even use on-call coaching when it's available to her. She's the last person that would probably. So that's where it got really heated for her in the end.
[Hill:] Really quickly, we're tight on time.
[Stubbs:] Yes.
[Hill:] But what about Naomi Osaka?
[Stubbs:] I know.
[Hill:] I mean, it is getting she's playing her idol.
[Stubbs:] Yes.
[Hill:] She's
[Stubbs:] Yes. It was
[Hill:] I mean, the emotion from her
[Stubbs:] It was terrible. It was so terrible to see what happened on that dais when she was about to receive. She played unbelievable last night. She deserved that win. The last point was an incredible serve. She didn't get overruled by the situation. I've got to tell you, it was one of the most amazing matches that I've seen a young player play, to play her idol. But that moment, unfortunately, was overshadowed by what happened last night. And I know Serena putting her arm around her on the trophy celebration there was a pretty amazing moment. And for me, as a player, and all of us as viewers, it was hard to watch. And I hope she can enjoy this moment today.
[Hill:] Yes, I hope so, too.
[Stubbs:] Yes.
[Hill:] We really appreciate you coming in.
[Stubbs:] You're welcome.
[Hill:] It's a pleasure to meet you.
[Stubbs:] Yes.
[Hill:] Thank you.
[Stubbs:] Thanks.
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