But was Serena a victim of sexism at the US Open?
▶ Williams hit with fine for calling official a ‘thief’ and a ‘liar’ in remarkable scenes during the US Open final on Saturday that overshadow Osaka’s first slam victory
Serena Williams denied knowledge her coach was giving her instructions and had “never cheated in her life” after her hopes of winning a 24th grand slam title ended in extraordinary scenes at the US Open on Saturday.
The headlines were supposed to be about Williams’ bid for a record-equalling major and Osaka trying to become Japan’s first slam winner, but instead an argument with umpire Carlos Ramos would end up overshadowing the match.
The American received three code violations, including a game penalty for verbal abuse, from Ramos in the final, where she was beaten by 20-year-old Osaka 6-2, 6-4.
And Williams was yesterday handed at $17,000 (Dh64,000) fine by the US Tennis Association for her behaviour.
After losing the first set to the Japanese 20th seed, Ramos gave Williams the first code violation in the form of a warning early in the second set for getting instructions from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
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 angrily 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 – who displayed not only a stellar game, but also remarkable poise throughout – held serve to seal a historic win.
Asked in her press conference what she would have done differently in hindsight, Williams became increasingly emotional as she said: “I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief, because I thought he took a game from me.
“But I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff.
“For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said ‘thief’. It blows my mind.
“I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions and that wants to express themselves, and wants to be a strong woman.
“They’re going to be allowed to do that because of today.”
Mouratoglou later said he had been giving Williams, 36, instructions, but added he did not think she had looked in his direction. He said Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin had also been giving his player advice.
“If I’m honest, I was coaching, I don’t think she looked at me,” Mouratoglou told ESPN. “Sascha was coaching every point too.”
She added in her post-match news conference that she had asked Mouratoglou why he said he was coaching her.
“I just texted Patrick, like, ‘What is he talking about?’” Williams said. “I’m trying to figure out why he would say that.” Williams continued protesting to Ramos during a changeover but returned to break Osaka’s serve to go 3-1 up in the second set.
But Osaka broke back in the next game and the American smashed her racquet in frustration, earning a second code violation and a one-point deduction from Ramos.
The deduction enraged Williams and she screamed at Ramos at the next changeover, drawing the game penalty after she called him a thief.
“I have never cheated in my life,” she said during the tirade. “I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her. I’ve never cheated and you owe me an apology.
“You will never be on another court of mine as long as you live. Say it. Say you’re sorry. And you stole a point from me. You’re a thief.”