When the Umpire strikes back
Umpires often bear the brunt of frustration, but what happens when their patience reaches breaking point?
Such was the case at the US Open final on Sunday (AEST) when Serena Williams butted heads with umpire Carlos Ramos.
Despite the controversy, Ramos will be back in the chair to officiate this weekend’s Davis Cup clash between Croatia and the United States.
Ramos docked Serena a game for three code violations which sparked a heated exchange, before the former world number one went on to lose to Naomi Osako.
Ramos’s run-in with Serena wasn’t the first time an umpire returned serve.
Kyrgios gets a pep talk
Nick Kyrgios was trailing Pierre-Hughes Herbert 3-0 in the second set at this year’s US Open, before umpire Mohamed Lahyani descended from his chair to give the Australian a court-side pep talk.
Lahyani told Kyrgios: “I want to help you. You are great for tennis. I know this is not you.”
The umpire’s intervention worked wonders and Kyrgios fought back to beat the Frenchman to set up a third round clash against Roger Federer.
Shapovalov v Gabas – Davis Cup 2017
Denus Shapovalov was famously disqualified at the 2017 Davis Cup after the Canadian smashed a ball into the face of umpire Arnaud Gabas after losing a decisive point to Kyle Edmund.
The incident left Gabas with a fractured eye socket, but Shapovalov claims he’s since patched things up and the pair are now ‘good friends.’
"He is an extremely nice guy. He has really helped me get through it because he could have been mean about it - but he is a great gentleman, a great guy," Shapalov said.
"In a strange way we have become good friends."
Williams v Clijsters US Open
Serena’s blow-up at Carlos Ramos wasn’t her only US Open meltdown. Her first came in 2009 after losing a crucial point for a foot violation against Kim Clijsters.
Serena’s meltdown proved costly, losing the match the Clijsters on the back of a point violation and coming away with a $USD 10,500 fine for her troubles.
