The legacy of Serena Williams, who next week competes in her first tennis Grand Slam since her fiery clash with a US Open umpire, will not be harmed by the incident, according to American great Chris Evert.
When it comes to Williams, who is seeking a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, Evert believes it is her remarkable journey from the hard scrabble courts in Compton, Los Angeles, where she learned the game to the top of the tennis world that will be remembered most.
"The fact that she dominated for so long and could break the record of Grand Slams I think that will overshadow everything at the end of the day," said former world No.1 Evert.
"But there will be a sidenote that Serena has a lot of passion and that she has at times lost her cool on the courts but I don't think for one minute it's going to tarnish her whole reputation."
Williams was handed a warning by US Open chair umpire Carlos Ramos during last September's final for a coaching violation before being deducted a point for smashing her racket and later a game for a heated argument during her loss to Naomi Osaka.
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Williams is no stranger to such confrontations but the incident, during which she called Ramos a "liar" and a "thief" and said he treated her differently than male players during her loss to Osaka, divided the tennis world.
Williams, 37, captured her seventh Australian Open title in her last appearance in Melbourne in 2017, when she in the early stages of her pregnancy with daughter Alexis Olympia.
She reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals after her return last year but lost both, leaving her one short of Australian Margaret Court's tally of major singles titles.
