Umpire Carlos Ramos has made his first public statement since the U.S. Open, saying he was "good" despite the firestorm of controversy that followed his officiating of last weekend's women's final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.
The 47-year-old Portuguese handed out three code violations to runner-up Williams on Saturday, prompting a heated on-court argument with the 23-times Grand Slam champion and sparking a debate about sexism in tennis.
"I am good, under the circumstances," Ramos was quoted as saying in Portugal's Tribuna Expresso.
"It's an unhappy situation but a la carte refereeing doesn't exist.
"Don't you worry about me!"
Ramos, who told the newspaper that he had avoided walking the streets of New York on Sunday to avoid any "complicated situations", confirmed he would be back in the chair on Friday in Zadar, Croatia.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which on Monday issued a statement describing Ramos as one of the most respected umpires in tennis, has appointed him to officiate the semi-final of the Davis Cup, the international men's team event, between Croatia and the United States.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) both publicly backed the allegations of sexism levelled at Ramos after Saturday's match.
Williams was fined $17,000 and docked a point and a game for three code violations during the match, including breaking a racket and verbally abusing the umpire.
Billie Jean King, the former world number one who founded the WTA in the 1970s, said on Tuesday all sides shared blame for the incident, saying Williams was "out of line" but that Ramos could have prevented the controversy with more leniency and clearer communication.
Ramos was unable to defend himself in public in New York as the row escalated over the weekend as ITF rules prevent umpires from commenting on their matches.
"I drew her as she is. As an African-American woman, so this whole business that I am some sort of racist, calling on racial cartoons from the past, it's just made up. It's not there."
The incident sparked another social media storm on Monday when a cartoon was published in an Australian newspaper depicting Williams with exaggerated features, which civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson among others described as "racist".
The Herald Sun, owned by News Corp, defied allegations of racism on Wednesday when it reprinted the cartoon on its front page, attempting to portray the controversy as a matter of freedom of speech.
The controversial illustration showed the runner-up jumping on a racquet lying next to a baby's dummy.
For its Wednesday edition, the Herald Sun filled its front page with cartoons, including the contentious Williams image, along with likenesses of US president Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison.
Under the headline "welcome to PC world", the paper said: "If the self-appointed censors of Mark Knight get their way on his Serena Williams cartoon, our new politically correct life will be very dull indeed."
Tomorrow's @theheraldsun front page tonight #auspol #springst pic.twitter.com/2nuLbKppku
— damon johnston (@damonheraldsun) September 11, 2018
It came after the paper's editor, Damon Johnston, said the cartoon "rightly mocks poor behaviour by a tennis legend" and Mr Knight has the "has the full support of everyone" at the paper.
Rowling led widespread criticism of its Monday cartoon, saying it had reduced "one of the greatest sportswomen alive to racist and sexist tropes".
She also criticised the depiction of Osaka as a "faceless prop" in the background of the image.
The cartoon was also criticised by the veteran civil rights campaigner Reverend Jesse Jackson, who said it was "despicable", and Melbourne-born basketball star Ben Simmons.
The 2018 NBA rookie of the year tweeted: "To disrespect Serena Williams, a 23 time Grand Slam Champion, in this light is truly disappointing. As an Australian, I am truly disappointed #morethananathlete"
Mr Knight said the barrage of online criticism led him to take down his social media profiles after abuse was also directed at his family by some users.
He said the reaction showed the world "has just gone crazy" and insisted he was simply illustrating her behaviour on the day.
He told the paper: "The cartoon was just about Serena on the day having a tantrum.
"A few days beforehand I had actually drawn a cartoon of Australian Nick Kyrgios and his bad behaviour at the US Open, so I'm not targeting. (Serena). Serena is a champion.
"I drew her as an African-American woman, she's powerfully built, she wears these outrageous costumes when she plays tennis - she's interesting to draw.
