The WTA has decided not to fine Caroline Wozniacki for her father and coach Piotr’s argument with a chair umpire from the stands during her 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over Mona Barthel in Doha. With Wozniacki serving up 3-1 in the second set, a Barthel backhand on game point was ruled good by a linesman, but a fan yelled “out” from the stands.
Caroline, who was already angry about line calls in the first set, grew furious at the chair umpire, saying: “It’s not fun. It’s supposed to be fun out here.”
Piotr began yelling at the chair umpire before an official approached him. He did not leave the court. The umpire then decided to replay the point.
WTA rules do not explicitly address whether coaches are allowed to talk to umpires during matches. It does appear that, under WTA rules, coaches are subject to its code of conduct, and had Piotr Wozniacki verbally abused the umpire, his daughter could have been fined. There does not appear to be a mechanism for fining coaches. However, it does appear that the WTA reserves the right to suspend coaches from being on court during future matches. That has not occurred with Piotr Wozniacki.