ANDY: I’M JUST HAPPY TO BE BACK PLAYING
THEIR HIGHLIGHT FROM THE SPORTING YEAR
speak with tournament referee Brian Earley was astonishing but it simply delayed the inevitable outcome.
Amid the mayhem Osaka somehow managed to keep her cool to win 6-2 6-4 despite the biggest moment of the then 20-year-old’s career being completely overshadowed.
It was such a sad sight seeing her in tears on the podium as the crowd jeered feeling the need to apologise for winning because it wasn’t the outcome the crowd had either expected or hoped for.
Her voice cracking with emotion as she clutched the trophy, Osaka said: “I know that everyone was cheering for her and I’m sorry it had to end like this.
“It was always my dream to play Serena in the US Open final and I’m grateful I was able to do that.”
Williams pleaded for the boos to stop but it was too late. Her selfish actions had already wrecked the moment.
You only become a first-time Major champion once and Osaka’s will be remembered for the wrong reasons (she was named the most unfairly treated athlete of 2018 in a recent British survey).
The fall-out continued for days with Williams accusing the umpire of sexism as she was fined £13,000 for her actions – less than one per cent of her US Open prize money.
There have been so many highs in Williams’s career and turning up at Flushing Meadows that day you expected her to write another chapter and it would have been great to witness history.
What transpired was the opposite as she slumped to a shameful low. But in terms of a story it was still huge and a privilege to have been there to cover it.
There is a real buzz to the atmosphere at the US Open and the night sessions are in contrast to the stuffiness of Wimbledon.
And when the roof is closed on the Arthur Ashe stadium and the music and lights come on it would rival Parkhead on a European night.
Yet on the night of Williams’s meltdown there was a strangely subdued atmosphere as fans filed out in disbelief at what they had witnessed. FROM BACK PAGE 18 months, a lot of ups and downs. It was tricky just to get back on the court competing again so I’m happy I am back out here.
“I want to try to enjoy playing tennis as long as I can. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to last but we’ll see.”
The double Olympic champion returned to action for two grass-court events last summer but shut down his season in September to work on rehabbing his hip.
He admitted before his return Down Under he still felt pain in the joint and struggled during his 88-minute victory, especially wide on his forehand.
But when Murray later spoke in his press conference he put a positive spin on his performance.
He said: “I thought I did quite well. I was nervous but I like nerves. “I felt like I saw the ball better today versus, say, the middle of last year. I don’t feel apprehensive about my hip.
“Today I didn’t really think about it at all. I was in a little bit of discomfort but I didn’t feel (the hip) on any movements for my shots. It didn’t affect my play that way.”
Murray will next face No.4 seed Daniil Medvedev today as he continues his build-up to the Australian Open that starts on January 14.
He said: “It kills me I’ve not been able to be there competing.
“The top three spots in the rankings are still taken by the same guys. Hopefully I will get a few chances in the coming months to play against them again.”
Meanwhile, British No.1 Jo Konta recorded her first win over a top-10 player since Wimbledon 2017 as she shocked world No.6 Sloane Stephens.
The world No.37 needed 10 minutes to win her first service game before triumphing 6-4 6-3.
Defending champion Nick Kyrgios sent down 45 aces as he beat American Ryan Harrison in a re-match of last year’s final.
The eighth seed, who had three match points in the second set, overcame the American 7-6 5-7 7-6.
Alex de Minaur beat Alexei Popyrin 6-2 6-2 while Jordan Thompson saw off wild card Alex Bolt 6-3 6-0.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was also a straight-sets winner against Thanasi Kokkinakis and his 7-6 6-4 success set up a second-round clash with top seed Rafael Nadal.
Nadal is raring to go following an injury-hit 2018 that saw him contest only nine events but win five including a record-extending 11th French Open.
He said: “I didn’t have the chance to play as often as I would like. On the other hand, I won five events out of nine I played.
“I believe I have a lot of tennis to play and I really feel my body is not getting worse every year.”
And Konta said: “I’m not trying to recreate something that I had, I’m trying to create something new and something better.
“I just keep looking ahead and keep trusting in the work that I do.
“Nothing ever is straight sailing and a constant upward trajectory so I’m just really happy.
“I’m sticking to the work, I’m enjoying what I do – even through the challenges – and I’m just going to keep doing that.”