Serena Williams posts family photo with daughter Olympia amid sexism conflict

Pro tennis star Serena Williams made headlines over the weekend when she spoke out against sexism in the sport.

She was also fined $10,000 for "verbally abusing" an umpire, $4,000 a warning about coaching and $3,000 for breaking a racket.

Read more on our Twitter page, @amomama_usa. Overall it was a bad weekend for Williams, who lost the final to 20-year-old newcomer, Naomi Osaka.

Osaka was visibly shaken after the match and Williams hugged her to lift her spirits. She also told reporters that Osaka "played well."

Williams accused umpire Carlos Ramos of sexism when he penalized her three times and called him a thief when he took a point.

While many of her fans are speaking out in support of Williams defending herself – including Billy Jean King – others have lashed back with harsh criticism.

Willaims said she was "fighting for women's rights and for women's equality" because male athletes are held to different standards than women.

Billy Jean King supported Williams and said on Twitter:

"When a woman is emotional, she's 'hysterical', and she's penalized for it. When a man does the same, he's 'outspoken.'"

She also thanked Williams for "calling out this double standard," and added that "more voices are needed to do the same."

Williams has since demanded an apology from Carlos Romero for his display of sexism.

Despite the unpleasantness, Williams is determined to make the most of the rest of her week and spend it with her family.

She shared a photo on Instagram that showed her and daughter Alexis Olympia snuggling under a blanket.

It appears as though her toddler is giving a warning glance to the camera, almost as if to protect her mother from the critics.

One Instagram user wrote that the 1-year-old Alexis is "looking at that umpire the same way we were," and said Alexis is ready to defend her mother.

The photo has received more than 1,3 million likes in less than a day while the 37,000 comments contain a mix of both her supporters and critics.