The WTA is calling for equal treatment of all tennis players and coaching to be allowed across the sport in the aftermath of the US Open final.
Serena Williams was given three code violations by chair umpire Carlos Ramos in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka on Saturday, and Williams and critics inside and outside of tennis argued that she wasn't treated the same as some male players.
The women's pro tour agreed.
"The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same. We do not believe that this was done last night," CEO Steve Simon said in a statement.
Men's champion Novak Djokovic said he thought Ramos should not have pushed Williams so hard.
"Just maybe changed - not maybe, but he did change the course of the match," Djokovic said. "Was, in my opinion, maybe unnecessary. We all go through our emotions, especially when you're fighting for a Grand Slam trophy."
But he disagreed with Simon that men and women are treated differently.
"I don't see things as Mr Simon does. I really don't," Djokovic said. "I think men and women are, you know, treated in this way or the other way depending on the situation. It's hard to generalize things, really. I don't see it's necessary really to debate that."
The first violation given to Williams was for coaching, which isn't allowed during any men's matches but is permitted on the women's tour except in Grand Slam tournaments.
Though Williams said she follows the rules and never receives coaching during a match, coach Patrick Mouratoglou acknowledged that he does it and says it's well known throughout the sport that all coaches do.
"We also think the issue of coaching needs to be addressed and should be allowed across the sport," Simon said. "The WTA supports coaching through its on-court coaching rule, but further review is needed."
Osaka ‘grateful'
US Open champion Naomi Osaka on Sunday tweeted that she was "grateful" for the chance to take on childhood hero Serena Williams for her first Grand Slam title.
Osaka became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Williams.
"So there's been a lot going on but I just want to say, I was grateful to have the opportunity to play on that stage on Saturday. Thank you," tweeted the 20-year-old Osaka, who is projected to rise to seventh in the world rankings on Monday.
She posed with her trophy at Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center in New York.
Osaka's victory was overshadowed by three code violations meted out to Williams, which led to an emotional outburst from the 23-time Grand Slam champion in the second set and made for a chaotic end to the match.
Williams was hit with a $17,000 fine for the violations, and debate raged as to whether it was the actions of chair umpire Carlos Ramos or of Williams herself that were more deserving of censure.