Osaka lifts maiden Slam, nightmare for Serena
MELTDOWN Sixtime US Open champ docked point, game by umpire on way to loss
NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title on Saturday as her idol Serena Williams angrily imploded, calling the chair umpire in the US Open final “a thief”. Osaka, 20, triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in the match marred by Williams’s second set outburst, the American enraged by umpire Carlos Ramos’s warning for receiving coaching from her box.
When a second code violation for racquet abuse was handed out to her — along with a point penalty — Williams exploded. She tearfully accused him of being a “thief” and demanded an apology from the official. “You’re attacking my character,” she said.
“You will never, ever be on another court of mine. You are the liar,” she fumed and Ramos handed her a game penalty for a third violation - verbal abuse that put Osaka one game from victory at 5-3 in the second set.
Williams won the next game, and continued her tearful remonstrations with a supervisor on the changeover. But Osaka held serve to seal a historic win for her country. “It doesn’t really feel that real right now. Maybe in a few days I’ll realise what I’ve done,” said Osaka.
Williams’s outburst overshadowed an outstanding performance from Osaka, who made her second career title a Grand Slam after winning her first at Indian Wells in March.
A match with history at stake for both players got off to a tense start and it was Williams who blinked first, double-faulting on break point to give Osaka a 2-1 lead. After a confident hold Osaka broke again to lead 4-1. They came to life again as Williams gained her first break chance, which Osaka saved with a 117 mph service winner. Williams squandered one more chance before Osaka sealed the hold with another big serve. It was in the second game of the second set that Williams was warned for receiving coaching, a charge she vigorously denied.
Williams was up 2-1 on the changeover when she spoke again with Ramos appearing to smooth things over, and she finally found a way to break Osaka for a 3-1 lead.
When Osaka broke back with the aid of two double faults and a backhand into the net from Williams, the American smashed her racquet to the court. A second code violation came with a point penalty to start the next game that sent her into orbit. After Osaka broke for a 4-3 lead Williams continued her verbal assault on Ramos, who docked her a game for a third violation that put Osaka up 5-3.
FINED $17,000
Williams was fined $17,000 for the code violations she received during the U.S. Open final, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said. She was fined $10,000 for the “verbal abuse” of Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching and $3,000 for smashing her racquet.
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I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her. I’ve never cheated, and you (chair umpire) owe me an apology. You will never be on another court of mine. Say it. Say you’re sorry. And you stole a point from me. You’re a thief.
SERENA WILLIAMS