Serena Williams’ Fitness Coach Defends Her After Controversial US Open Outburst

Serena Williams of the United States yells at chair umpire Carlos Ramos in the women's final against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sept. 8, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY SPORTS

The controversial fracas that led to Serena Williams being penalized and later fined during the U.S. Open final that she ultimately lost is being defended by one of her longtime coaches.

Williams was given a code violation warning during the final on Sept. 8 when the umpire ruled that she was getting hand signals from her coach in the stands.