Game-set-match was not the end of the controversy surrounding a surprising loss and a disappointing display of sexism. On Sep. 10 Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams competed in the US Open women’s final in New York. Williams, who is often regarded as one of the greatest female or all around tennis players of all time was defeated by Osaka, who ultimately outplayed her. Viewers were shocked at her loss, but truly astounded at the calls made by the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, for the match. Ramos made his first controversial call when William’s coach was making gestures from the sidelines in an attempt to coach her and it escalated from there. Williams will be fined $17,000 for violating the US Open’s codes on sideline coaching, racket abuse and verbal abuse.

Aside from the obviously apparent fact that in tennis matches men receive warnings for poor behavior and that all players receive coaching from the sidelines during the US Open, the calls and media reaction has created a gendered precedent for female athletes at all levels. Men are permitted to be emotional in sports, because it is considered to be a display of their passion and integrity, whereas women are largely viewed as irrational and angry. Media reporting, specifically headlines have a significant influence on the stereotypes that get attached to certain groups. The Washington Post‘s headline called her reaction another “episode.” The Washington Post choosing to use this word confirms the trope of the emotional and irrational women, because the word episode connotes an unjustified showing of anger and emotion. Even more specifically, the coverage of Willams’ behavior confirms the harmful stereotype of the “angry black woman” that disregards the validity of a black woman’s emotions.

In the men’s US Open finals Novak Djokovic received a code violation for taking too long to serve. After it was announced, he smashed his racket. No code violation was called and he will not be fined the $3,000 that Williams will for the same offense. Williams is being regarded under completely different standards than Djokovic. Tennis players, men and women, are passionate about their sport and deserve to be in a respectful way. What’s unfortunate is this display of passion, be it disrespectful or not, is being treated in two completely different ways.

The implications of these calls reverberate through our community, where women should remain calm and collected, not just during sports, but in everyday life, while men can display any emotions they feel in that moment. These controversial code violation calls send a serious message to women about the repercussions of being assertive and standing up for themselves.

Williams took the trophy ceremony as a moment to rise above and support the other woman, who did outplay her. She shared a hug with Osaka and asked her supporters to stop booing her. It’s time for people in sports to take Williams’ cue and start giving women the same treatment and standards as men.