Serena Williams’ reaction was ‘pretty overboard’, says Jamie Murray as he dismisses umpire sexism row

Jamie Murray has rejected Serena Williams’ claim that women are treated differently by umpires than male players, with the doubles star claiming that her reaction was “pretty overboardâ€�. Williams saw her hopes of tying Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles at last weekend’s US Open go up in smoke as she crashed to a straight-sets defeat by Japan’s Naomi Osaka, but it was the American’s furious bust-up with umpire Carlos Ramos that sparked the biggest controversy that has dominated the game ever since. The 36-year-old accused Ramos of being a “liarâ€� and a “thiefâ€� after he gave Williams three separate code violations for illegally receiving coaching, smashing her racket on the ground and verbally abusing a match official, which prompted one of the most extraordinary finishes to a match in Williams’ career as she was docked a game in the decisive second set.