(CNN) —
US Open organizers have expressed “regret” for the way French tennis player Alize Cornet was treated for briefly taking off her shirt on court.
In the sweltering heat at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, Cornet took her top off after realizing she had put it on the wrong way during a 10-minute heat rule break between the second and third set against Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.
Cornet, who had been running late getting back to the court, reacted with surprise when she was then handed a code violation by chair umpire Christian Rask.
The incident led to a storm of criticism on social media, with Judy Murray, a former tennis coach and also the mother British star Andy, questioning whether double standards were at work for men and women.
“Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break,” tweeted Murray. “Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct … But the men can change shirts on court.”
The women’s WTA tour was also critical of the incident, saying in an emailed statement: “Alize did nothing wrong.”
PHOTO: Michael Dodge/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Cornet also suffered problems with the heat at the Australian Open in January.
READ: Djokovic enjoys ice bath as players and fans wilt in US Open heat
“We regret that a Code Violation was assessed to Ms. Cornet yesterday,” said the United States Tennis Association in a statement sent to CNN Sport.
“We have clarified the policy to ensure this will not happen moving forward. Fortunately, she was only assessed a warning with no further penalty or fine.
“Female players, if they choose, may also change their shirts in a more private location close to the court, when available. They will not be assessed a bathroom break in this circumstance.”
Earlier Wednesday, USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier told CNN by phone that Cornet was given a code violation for “changing her shirt at the baseline. That was considered unprofessional conduct … Basically that was a warning and there was no further penalty and there was no fine.”
In the case of Cornet, Widmaier said the USTA had been following the rules of both the men’s and women’s Tours.
“As it relates to female players changing their shirts on court, they will have the right to do so as long as it is when they are sitting in the chair,” said Widmaier. “We don’t want people changing their attire in the middle of the court.”
He added: “Also, in many of our stadiums and other areas, there are places very close to the court, where if the player wants to quickly move to a more private area to change her attire because of these pretty severe weather conditions, we will allow that, and not consider that a change of attire or bathroom break.”
00:45 - Source: HLN
Serena's catsuit banned by French Open
READ: Williams’ catsuit set to be consigned to closet
Under WTA rules, the women are given two bathroom breaks during their matches.
“So we don’t want to be unduly harsh considering what the severe weather conditions are,” said Widmaier. “If that player were to decide she would like a little bit more privacy, she will be able to go right off, adjacent to the court, to change and that will not be considered a bathroom break.”
Still, the WTA called the code violation “unfair and it was not based on a WTA rule, as the WTA has no rule against a change of attire on court.”
It added the code violation “came under the Grand Slam rules and we are pleased to see the USTA has now changed this policy.”
The rule was also news to most former players and analysts.
Pam Shriver, a US Open finalist in 1978 and ESPN commentator and analyst, tweeted: “I found out tonight from the ref the rule @usopen for women to change shirts on court has been a code violation for years … I did not know that … In my day Barbara Potter did it often, I did it a few times. How about another rule “change?”
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
Serena Williams has taken tennis fashion to new heights. In New York she wore a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt for her 2018 US Open debut.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Williams, playing her first home Slam since giving birth to her first child last year, entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a black bomber jacket with white trim.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
Williams turned heads with her striking black catsuit in the first round of the 2018 French Open in Paris -- tournament organizers have since tightened dress codes for next year, meaning the catsuit will be consigned to the closet.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The 23-time grand slam champion was playing in her first major since giving birth to her first child in September. "I feel like a warrior princess in it," she told reporters. " I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
The 36-year-old American said the skintight suit also served a practical purpose after enduring a difficult childbirth. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots. So there is definitely a little functionality to it," she said.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Williams sticks with black and pink during the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Serena attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images/file
Serena enjoyed an astonishing 2015 season -- winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She missed the China Open and WTA finals after revealing she needed time to recover from a grueling year.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
At the beginning —
Serena sports a beaded hairstyle as she celebrates her first U.S. Open title -- and her first major -- back in 1999.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Parisian style —
Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
In the pink —
Serena blasts down a powerful serve on her way to another victory.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Getty Images
Height of fashion —
In 1999, Williams enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study fashion design. Here, she shows a collection of her designs at the 2012 Australian Open.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
If the cap fits... —
Williams, the world's No. 1 player, serves during a training session ahead of the 2015 French Open in Paris.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Traditional values —
Williams celebrated her sixth Wimbledon title in 2015, resplendent in the All England Club's traditional all-white attire. It meant she held all four grand slam titles, going back to the 2014 U.S. Open -- her second "Serena Slam."
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Don Emmert/Getty Images/File
The cat's whiskers —
Serena sported a catsuit when she played Corina Morariu during the 2002 U.S. Open. That title was the third leg of her first non-calendar "Serena Slam," which she completed months later at the 2003 Australian Open.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Harry How/Getty Images
Making an entrance —
Williams waves to the crowd as she enters stadium court before her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania at Indian Wells in 2015.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Getty Images
Glowing performance —
In a neon yellow outfit, Serena celebrates against Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Will Russell/Getty Images
Blue moment —
Williams looks crestfallen as she reflects on a point that got away.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/File
Suitable occasion —
A more formally-attired Serena celebrates one of her six victories at the U.S. Open.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Black and white image —
The Florida resident has triumphed at the US Open in New York six times.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Getty Images
Power play —
With her hair -- which she once described as "super crazy" -- tied back, Serena blasts a shot in a match against Ana Ivanovic in Cincinnati.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Out of the shadows —
Serena serves on a sunny day at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images
Up in the air —
Williams celebrates after winning the Madrid Open final against Maria Sharapova in 2013.
Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
PHOTO:
Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Hair-raising —
Serena sports a new style at the Australian Open in 2013.
READ: Serena sports striking US Open outfit
After slumping to a three-set defeat, during which Cornet cried and told the on-court doctor she needed to vomit and felt pain in her head and bones, the 28-year-old French star said the conditions had been a “nightmare.”
Temperatures are set to rise to as high as 93.2F (34 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday in New York, with the US Open’s Extreme Heat Policy in effect for both men and women for a second straight day.
Earlier this year, Cornet also suffered with the heat during her third-round defeat by Elise Mertens at the Australian Open.
“But still, you know, playing in this condition is of course very dangerous for the health of the player,” Cornet told reporters.
“The limit of not playing the match is really high, it’s like it needs to be above 45 degrees and humidity.”