Umpire Carlos Ramos has made his first public statement since the U.S. Open, saying he was "good" despite the firestorm of controversy that followed his officiating of last weekend's women's final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.
The 47‑year‑old Portuguese handed out three code violations to runner‑up Williams on Sunday, prompting a heated on‑court argument with the 23‑times Grand Slam champion and sparking a debate about sexism in tennis.
Ramos told a Portugese newspaper that he is good, under the circumstances and it's an unhappy situation.
Ramos, who told the newspaper that he had avoided walking the streets of New York on Sunday to avoid any "complicated situations", confirmed he would be back in the chair on Saturday in Croatia.
The International Tennis Federation which issued a statement describing Ramos as one of the most respected umpires in tennis, has appointed him to officiate the semi‑final of the Davis Cup, the international men's team event, between Croatia and the United States.
The United States Tennis Association and Women's Tennis Association both publicly backed the allegations of sexism levelled at Ramos after Sunday's match.
Williams was fined $17,000 and docked a point and a game for three code violations during the match, including breaking a racket and verbally abusing the umpire.
[Source: Radio NZ]
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