Earlier this year, I wrote about how impressed I was with the performance of Serena Williams after coming back from having a baby last year. She is remarkably and deservedly the best women’s tennis player in the world. That being said, I don’t totally agree with her reaction to the umpire in the U.S. Open Finals last Saturday.

Umpire Carlos Ramos warned Williams for communicating with a coach during the match, to which she responded, “I understand why you may have thought that was coaching but I’m telling you it’s not. I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.”

I for one, believe Williams. Something happened that caught the eye of Ramos and he felt Williams was getting signals from her coach. But, if she says she wasn’t, I’m willing to believe that. At that point, it was just a warning with no penalty.

Later in the match, Williams slammed her racket on the ground after missing a point, and for that, Ramos called another infraction, and with this a point penalty against Williams.

Here’s where things began to heat up.

Williams wanted to know why a penalty was assessed and the umpire explained that it was her second offense. Williams didn’t like that explanation, claiming the first one should have been taken away since she claimed she wasn’t receiving any coaching. However, that’s not how it works. Once charged with an infraction, it’s not taken away unless the umpire clearly indicates his intention to do so.

Williams then called the umpire and “liar” and a “thief.” Well, that never sets well with an official of any sport, and Ramos then assessed her a game penalty.

She then asked the U.S. Open officials to come to the court so she could state her case. The problem is, instead of just defending herself and keeping to her claims that the umpire was being unfair, she started ranting about how if she was a man this wouldn’t be happening.

 “Do you know how many men do things that are much worse than that? This is not fair,” Williams told the officials. “There’s a lot of men out here who have said a lot of things and because they are men, nothing happens to them.”

Boom, that’s where she loses me. It’s very difficult to win the officials and organizers over to your side when you start implying they are complicit in permitting a double-standard to take place at their tournament. True or not, you don’t win points with that argument.

Besides, the penalties fit the infractions, and if the umpire was right, then he administered the penalties correctly. The next day, the U.S. Open tournament referee’s office docked Williams $10,000 for ”verbal abuse” of chair umpire Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching, and $3,000 for breaking her racket. So even after further review, the officials still felt Williams was wrong and Ramos was right, and that she deserved an additional fine.

The next thing you know, this has been turned into a female vs. male issue, and some folks have even brought race into the debate by contending that the rest of the world can’t stand seeing a powerful black woman.

Activist and community organizer Brittany Packnett posted on Twitter, “You’ve also witnessed what happens when black women – yes BLACK-women dare stand up for themselves. Serena rightfully defended herself but stuff is already saying she ‘exploded.’ Just say y’all hate Serena ‘cause dominant black women scare the mess outta you and move on. Go be miserable elsewhere.”

I can only speak for myself, but I certainly don’t hate Serena. In fact, I’m not much of a tennis fan, but I love Serena. I think she has been so dominant in the sport for so long, and has overcome so much adversity, injuries, and becoming a mother, but continues to play at the top of her game. That, to me, deserves a lot of respect. I personally am thrilled that I’ve had the opportunity to watch some of the top names in tennis in my lifetime, and right now, we’re watching someone who is one Grand Slam title away from tying the career record for women with the legendary Margaret Court (24 Grand Slam victories).

Williams is to tennis what Wayne Gretzky was to hockey, what Henry Aaron was to baseball, and what Michael Jordan was to basketball; the greatest of all time, and we are fortunate to be alive at this point in history to have watched these greats perform in their respective sports.

Following the match, Williams went back to being her cordial and respectful self. During the on-court trophy presentation, the crowd was booing and showing their displeasure of the umpire’s decisions, but Williams wrapped an arm around Naomi Osaka, who was crying, and quieted the crowd.

“She played well and this is her first Grand Slam,” Williams told the crowd. “Let’s make this the best moment we can, we’ll get through it. Let’s give everyone credit where credit’s due. Let’s not boo anymore. We’re going to get through this. Let’s stay positive. Congratulations, Naomi. No more booing!”

Agreed. No more booing, but also, I would add, no more whining about it’s unfair that men are treated differently, or you don’t like the color of my skin. Some umpires might hold a bias toward men, and some may wrongly take race into account, but I sure hope those officials are very few. There’s no place in any sport for crooked, biased, racist officials, but there’s also no place for whining.