Williams was issued a code violation for receiving coaching during the second set, then was penalized a point for smashing her racket. When she called chair umpire Carlos Ramos a “thief,” demanded an apology and grew emotional as she said she never cheats and wants to set an example for her daughter, he docked her a game at a critical juncture. “Because I am a woman you are going to take this away from me? That is not right,” she protested. Williams, who was on the ropes against Osaka, went on to lose, 6-2, 6-4, and was fined $17,000. Both players were booed as they wept during an emotional trophy-presentation ceremony in which Williams asked the crowd to “make this the best moment we can. Let’s give everyone the credit where credit is due. Let’s not boo anymore. Congratulations, Naomi.”<doc-sep>Stephen Curry is the latest to throw support behind Serena Williams after the US Open's controversial women's final, telling Omnisport this week that he thinks Williams showed "grace and class" amid arguments with umpire Carlos Ramos. Williams has had a busy week in the headlines -- and just about none of them have had to do with her weekend performance against women's champion Naomi Osaka. The U.S. Tennis Association and Women's Tennis Association publicly backed Williams' assertion that Ramos penalized her vs. Osaka differently than he would have a male tennis player. Meanwhile, various tennis umpires are threatening to boycott Serena's matches after she called Ramos a "thief" during her US Open appearance. A day after women's tennis legend Billie Jean King said Williams was the victim of sexism and "an archaic rule" about in-match coaching, Curry has cast his own support behind Serena. "You're going to have reactions," the Golden State Warriors star said, per The Washington Post. "That's what sport is all about ... Obviously Naomi deserved to win, and she played amazing. The way Serena handled the situation, I think she handled it with such grace and class." Williams initially received a warning during her match with Osaka for getting hand signals from her coach and breaking her racket. She was then issued a full-game penalty for confronting Ramos, saying that he was smearing her character and effectively stealing a game from her. Afterward, however, with boos raining down on both her and Osaka at the trophy presentation, Williams asked fans to "give everyone the credit where credit is due" and refocus on Osaka's victory.<doc-sep>NBA star Stephen Curry came to the defense of Serena Williams this week, following the legendary tennis player’s loss at the U.S. Open Women’s Final to 20-year-old Naomi Osaka. The championship match between the two women on Saturday was marred by a controversial verbal altercation between Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos, who gave the 23-time Grand Slam champion three separate on-court violations. Williams, 36, was penalized for illegal coaching, breaking her racket and verbal abuse, and later suggested that the umpire’s actions were motivated by sexism. “Because I am a woman you are going to take this away from me?” Williams — who also called Ramos a “liar” and a “thief” — shouted mid-match. “That is not right!” Boos rained down from the audience as Osaka claimed her first Grand Slam victory, which prompted Williams to tell the crowd, “Let’s give everyone the credit where credit is due, let’s not boo anymore. Congratulations, Naomi.” Serena Williams of the United States argues with umpire Carlos Ramos RELATED: Every Single Celebrity Who Hit the US Open in N.Y.C. Curry, a friend of Williams, commended the tennis player for her sportsmanship following the loss. “The way Serena handled the situation,” the Golden State Warriors player told Omnisport while touring Asia with Under Armour. “I think she handled it with such grace and class.” Curry, a three-time NBA champion, said that reactions like the one Williams displayed are part of the game for athletes playing at such a high level, but controlling emotions can often be difficult. “It’s tough,” he explained, “but with experience, you understand how you can control your emotions and how you can stay focused on what the task at hand is and that’s just winning basketball games and not letting anything get in the way of that.” WATCH: Naomi Osaka Talks U.S. Open Win Curry added: “You’re going to have reactions. That’s what sport is all about.” In the wake of the scandal surrounding her victory, Osaka — who is from Japan — told PEOPLE she aims to make the country she represents proud. Story continues “I hope people over [in Japan] are happy, that’s the main thing that I wish,” she said. Many celebrities came out to congratulate Osaka following the match, and Curry joined in during his interview with Omnisport. “Obviously Naomi deserved to win and she played amazing,” Curry said. “At the end of the day, I hope everybody understands and celebrates Naomi because she’s the U.S. Open champion and that’s pretty dope.” Naomi Osaka is hugged by Serena Williams after she defeated Williams RELATED: U.S. Open Champ Naomi Osaka Says Nicki Minaj and Eminem Helped Her Win Her First Grand Slam Williams was later fined $17,000 for her on-court actions, and umpires are reportedly considering boycotting Williams‘ matches unless she apologizes to Ramos. At a press conference ahead of the fines, Williams said that she was paving the way for future female tennis players. “I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. And for me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark,” she said. “He’s never took a game from a man because they said ‘thief.’ For me it blows my mind. But I’m going to continue to fight for women and to fight for us to have equal [rights].”<doc-sep>
Warriors star Stephen Curry is the latest public figure to defend Serena Williams after the tennis player got into a heated argument with a chair umpire during the final match of the U.S. Open. Serena Williams received widespread support from fans, media and celebrities alike after the incident, in which she called the ref a "thief" after he gave her three violations. Curry was asked about the situation during a tour of Asia with his sponsor Under Armour, and said that Williams handled it with "grace and class." "The way Serena handled the situation, I think she handled it with such grace and class," he told sports news outlet, Omnisport. "At the end of the day, I hope everybody celebrates Naomi [Osaka] because she is the U.S. Open champion, and that's pretty dope." RELATED: Tennis umpires reportedly considering boycott of Serena Williams matches Osaka defeated Williams 6-2, 6-4, and the chair umpire gave Williams a code violation during the second set for allegedly receiving coaching. He hit her with another violation after she smashed her racket, and then docked her a game after she confronted him. "I don't cheat, I didn't get coaching! How can you say that?" Williams asked the umpire. "I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what's right for her, and I have never cheated. You owe me an apology!" MORE: Newspaper reprints controversial cartoon of Serena Williams Curry said athletes can eventually learn to control their emotions, but strong reactions are only natural. "It's tough, but with experience you understand how you can control your emotions and how you can stay focused on what the task at hand is — and that's just winning basketball games and not letting anything get in the way of that," he said. "You're going to have reactions. That's what sport is all about."