The fallout over the U.S.Open continues as new details emerge revealing Serena Williams' coach made motions during the match.
In an interview with ESPN shortly after the Sept. 8 match, Patrick Mouratoglou discussed the controversy surrounding her confrontation with umpire Carlos Ramos, resulting in her loss against 20-year-old rising tennis star Naomi Osaka.
Mouratoglou told the network he motioned in a way which looked like coaching during the match.
“I’m honest, I was coaching. I don’t think [Serena] looked at me, so that’s why she didn’t think I was (coaching)," Mouratoglou said. "But I was, like 100 percent of the coaches on 100 percent of the matches. So we have to stop this hypocrite thing. [Osaka’s coach] was coaching every point too."
“I just don’t understand what [coach Patrick Mouratoglou] was talking about because I asked him, you weren’t coaching, we don’t have signals, we’ve never had signals, and he said he made a motion,” Williams recently told The Sunday Project.
Ramos accused Williams of receiving coaching although other players, both male and female, have come to her defense stating the practice is commonplace.
She passionately denied the allegations on the court and was later penalized for standing up for herself. As a response to the controversy, she was fined $17,000, subjected to racist bullying and umpires have threatened to boycott her future matches.
The chair umpire at the center realized this boycott would only make the issue worse and create more unwanted controversy around the sport.
“It’s an unhappy situation, but à la carte refereeing doesn’t exist,” the 47-year-old told a Portuguese newspaper. “Don’t you worry about me!”
“So you said you made a motion, now you told people that you’re coaching me. That doesn’t make sense, why would you say that?” the player added.
The Associated Press reports the coach admitted to sending her signals because Osaka's coach, Sascha Bajin, was also sending her signals at the time of the match. He also admits Williams was not aware of this.
"I am honest. I was coaching. I don't think she looked one time. Sascha was coaching every point too," he said.
Now, check these out:
Australian Football Players Wore Blackface In Not 'Intended To Be Racist' Venus And Serena Costumes
Naomi Osaka Slated To Secure History-Making Bag With Adidas
Naomi Osaka Revealed What Serena Williams Whispered In Her Ear At The U.S. Open, And It Fully Embodies Black Sisterhood