Serena Williams
Serena Williams of the United States argues with umpire Carlos Ramos during her Women's Singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City, Sept. 8, 2018. Jaime Lawson/Getty Images for USTA

If anyone was expecting a repeat of the showdown between Serena Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos, they are going to be disappointed. A United States Tennis Association spokesman has confirmed to CNN that the Portuguese tennis umpire will not officiate any match that involves the Williams sisters during the 2019 US Open.

Ramos was the chair umpire for the 2018 US Open women’s singles finals between Williams and Naomi Osaka, which the latter went on to dominate the game and win 6-2, 6-4 to become the first Japanese player to ever win a singles major title. But the match ended in controversial fashion with the 23-time women’s singles Grand Slam champion accusing the umpire of sexism.

Williams and Ramos clashed throughout the game and the first came after he called a violation for on-court coaching, she was then penalized for smashing her racket, which completely set her off and eventually she received a game penalty when she called the Portuguese tennis official a thief. The partisan crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium were backing their player and were constantly booing when Osaka lifted the trophy to celebrate the greatest moment in her short career, which saw her cry during the ceremony.

The American went on to accuse the chair umpire of being sexist by suggesting that many a male tennis players have got away with saying much worse to an official and needed to be calmed down by the tournament director. A number of players came out in support of Williams, but there were an equal number criticizing her for her actions which included current players on the WTA Tour.

Williams and Osaka are currently preparing for the 2019 US Open with both players returning from minor injuries. The former retired from her final at the Rogers Cup recently while the latter retired during her quarterfinals match against Sofia Kenin in the Cincinnati Masters.

Osaka is currently ranked number one in the world and will be the top seed in the women’s draw while Williams will be seeded eighth. If the duo does come up against each other at Flushing Meadows, it will be a highly anticipated clash but Williams already avenged her defeat by beating Osaka at the recent Rogers Cup in straight sets.

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