The events and the arguing and the booing that would make this a U.S. Open final unlike any other began when Serena WilliamsB次元官网网址� coach made what she insisted was an innocent thumbs-up, but the chair umpire interpreted as a helpful signal.
It was the second game of the second set Saturday, in a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, and WilliamsB次元官网网址� bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title already was in real trouble because she was being outplayed by first-time major finalist Naomi Osaka.
Chair umpire Carlos Ramos warned Williams for getting coaching during a match, which isnB次元官网网址檛 allowed. She briefly disputed that ruling, saying cheating B次元官网网址渋s the one thing IB次元官网网址檝e never done, ever.B次元官网网址� A few games later, Williams received another warning, this time for smashing her racket, and that second violation cost her a point, leading to more arguing. Eventually, Willams called Ramos B次元官网网址渁 thief,B次元官网网址� drawing a third violation B次元官网网址� and costing her a game.
B次元官网网址淚 have never cheated in my life!B次元官网网址� Williams told Ramos. B次元官网网址淵ou owe me an apology.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
Soon, Osaka was finishing off a 6-2, 6-4 victory that made her the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title. That is not, however, what will be remembered about this chaotic evening.
With jeers bouncing off the arenaB次元官网网址檚 closed roof, both players B次元官网网址� the champion, Osaka, and the runner-up, Williams B次元官网网址� wiped away tears during a trophy ceremony that was awkward for everyone involved.
B次元官网网址淚 just feel like I had a lot of emotions,B次元官网网址� Osaka said, B次元官网网址渟o I had to kind of categorize what was which emotion.B次元官网网址�
Williams whispered something to Osaka and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
B次元官网网址淚 felt, at one point, bad, because IB次元官网网址檓 crying and sheB次元官网网址檚 crying. You know, she just won. IB次元官网网址檓 not sure if they were happy tears or they were just sad tears, because of the moment. I felt like, B次元官网网址榃ow, this isnB次元官网网址檛 how I felt when I won my first Grand Slam.B次元官网网址� I was like, B次元官网网址榃ow, I definitely donB次元官网网址檛 want her to feel like that,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Williams, who missed last yearB次元官网网址檚 U.S. Open because her daughter, Olympia, was born during the tournament. B次元官网网址淢aybe it was the mom in me that was like, B次元官网网址楲isten, weB次元官网网址檝e got to pull ourselves together here.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
This was the only the latest in a series of high-profile conflicts with match officials for Williams at Flushing Meadows. It all dates back to 2004, when an incorrect call during a quarterfinal loss to Jennifer Capriati was cited as the main reason for the introduction of replay technology in tennis. Then came WilliamsB次元官网网址� infamous tirade after a foot fault in the 2009 semifinals against Kim Clijsters, and a to-do over a hindrance call in the 2011 final against Sam Stosur.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always something,B次元官网网址� Williams said.
Osaka is just 20, 16 years younger than Williams B次元官网网址� and grew up idolizing the American, even asking her to pose for a selfie together at a tournament just a handful of years ago. Their age difference was the second-widest gap between womenB次元官网网址檚 finalists at a Slam in the professional era.
B次元官网网址淚 know that everyone was cheering for her,B次元官网网址� Osaka told the crowd, B次元官网网址渁nd IB次元官网网址檓 sorry it had to end like this.B次元官网网址�
What was most problematic for Williams on the scoreboard was that she was unable to keep up with a version of herself. Osaka, who happens to be coached by WilliamsB次元官网网址� former hitting partner, hit more aces, 6-3. Osaka hit the matchB次元官网网址檚 fastest serve, 119 mph. She had fewer errors, 21-14. She saved five of six break points. And she covered the court better than Williams did.
B次元官网网址淪he made a lot of shots,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淪he was so focused.B次元官网网址�
Indeed, that was what might have been most impressive. Osaka never let WilliamsB次元官网网址� back-and-forth with Ramos distract her, never wavered from playing terrific tennis. The one time Osaka did get broken, to trail 3-1 in the second set, she broke back immediately, prompting Williams to smash her racket.
That cost her a point, because of the earlier warning for coaching. While Williams was adamant that she never receives coaching, her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, acknowledged afterward that he did try to signal Williams, but didnB次元官网网址檛 think she had seen him.
ItB次元官网网址檚 true that it is something of an open secret in professional tennis that plenty of coaches do get away with offering help without any sort of sanction.
B次元官网网址淚 never had any warning in my career for coaching. Strange to do that in a Grand Slam final,B次元官网网址� Mouratoglou said. B次元官网网址淪econd, we all know that all the coaches coach at every match, all year long, from the first of January all the way to the 31st of December. We all know it.B次元官网网址�
When Ramos called both players over to explain the game penalty, which put Osaka ahead 5-3, Williams began laughing, saying: B次元官网网址淎re you kidding me?B次元官网网址� Then she asked to speak to tournament referee Brian Earley, who walked onto the court along with a Grand Slam supervisor. Williams told them the whole episode B次元官网网址渋s not fair,B次元官网网址� and said: B次元官网网址淭his has happened to me too many times.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭o lose a game for saying that is not fair,B次元官网网址� Williams said, and raised the idea that Ramos was being sexist : B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things and because they are men, that doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen.B次元官网网址�
It was the second Grand Slam final defeat in a row for Williams, after Wimbledon in July. SheB次元官网网址檚 appeared in only seven tournaments this season since returning to the tour after having a baby during last yearB次元官网网址檚 U.S. Open.
Williams asked what sheB次元官网网址檒l tell her daughter, Olympia, about what happened Saturday.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l tell her, first of all, if she sees it, that, you know, I stood up for what I believed in. I stood up for what was right,B次元官网网址� Williams replied. B次元官网网址淪ometimes, things in life donB次元官网网址檛 happen the way we want them, but always stay gracious and stay humble. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 the lesson we can all learn from this.B次元官网网址�
___
AP Sports Writers Dan Gelston and Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.
___
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
Like us on and follow us on .
