McEnroe was a sweet-tempered gentleman by comparison
It’s reassuring to learn that fellow tennis umpires are fully supporting Carlos Ramos after he was showered with insults by Serena Williams in the US Open final.
Against Naomi Osaka, Williams proved once again she is a poor loser against new-generation players. In Williams’ semi-final match in 2009 against Belgian Kim Clijsters, her deplorable behaviour was whistled by most spectators, but her outburst while losing against Osaka has drawn public support for this foul-mouthed great of women’s tennis.
In 2009, lip-readers deciphered Williams making this nasty and intimidating threat against a lineswoman: “I’m going to take the f*cking ball and shove it down your f*cking throat.”
Even the ill-tempered and foul-mouthed John McEnroe never used such vulgar and contemptuous expressions. So much for the campaign Williams and others claim to be waging against a supposed climate of anti-feminism and racism in today’s sports.
By the way, Ramos is one of the very few umpires to have officiated in the finals of all of four tennis grand slams – a man with eagle-eyes and a firm knowledge of the rules.
Horst Baer
