US Open: Osaka defeats Serena in dramatic final

There were astonishing scenes in the US Open final as Serena Williams lost to Naomi Osaka and had a furious row with umpire Carlos Ramos.

Naomi Osaka with the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams in the final.

Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam title after she registered an emphatic 6-2, 6-4 win over Serena Williams in the finals of the U.S Open. 

Osaka got off to an aggressive start in the first set, breaking the six-time US Open champion twice. She used her tremendous movement and brutal baseline hitting to close the set in just 33 minutes.

An extraordinary series of events then began to unfold during the second set when Williams was awarded a code violation because her coach was allegedly coaching her from the stands. An enraged Williams smashed her racquet on the court, which resulted in a subsequent violation, during with Osaka was handed a point.

Read: What Kei Nishikori had predicted before the US Open final

“I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose,” she was heard telling the chair umpire. 

Williams then got into an intense argument with the chair umpire following which she was given a game penalty. Williams held back tears but still managed to hold serve for 6-4.

The penalty gave Osaka — who stayed calm, cool and collected in the face of all the drama — a crucial lead in the second set and she served out the match a game later. 

A cascade of boos rained down on the trophy presentation ceremony that followed. 

Serena Williams argues with the umpire during the match.

After receiving her runner-up trophy, Williams said, “I just want to tell you guys, she played well and this is her first Grand Slam. But I know you guys are here rooting and I was rooting, too. And let’s make this the best moment we can.

“Let’s not boo anymore. We’re going to get through this and let’s be positive. Congratulations, Naomi. No more booing. It’s been a tough year for me but thank so you so much.”

Williams was bidding to win her 24th Grand Slam title, equalling Margaret Court’s record. She was also playing to win her first Major, after giving birth to her daughter last year.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Naomi Osaka [20] bt Serena Williams [17] 6-2 6-4 WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Osaka - 16/14 Williams - 21/21 ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Osaka - 6/1 Williams - 3/6 BREAK POINTS WON Osaka - 4/5 Williams - 1/6 FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Osaka - 73 Williams - 55 PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Osaka - 73/40 Williams - 63/44 TOTAL POINTS Osaka - 60 Williams - 50

 

REACTIONS TO SERENA WILLIAMS OUTBURST  AT THE US OPEN

Billie Jean King:  "Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women’s Finals today. Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen. When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “outspoken” & and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same."  https://twitter.com/BillieJeanKing/status/1038613108976168960 Chris Evert:  "Warning for coaching was fair, but everyone coaches and we need to change that rule.. and Carlos should have told or warned SW about the verbal abuse/rule before he enforced it"  https://twitter.com/ChrissieEvert/status/1038651166991822848 Victoria Azarenka:  "If it was men’s match, this wouldn’t happen like this. It just wouldn’t"  https://twitter.com/vika7/status/1038565973161201664 Kiki Mladenovic:  "Serena is a champion & doesn’t deserve it - the same way that Naomi is a champion & doesn’t deserve this atmosphere for her first GS title!"  https://twitter.com/KikiMladenovic/status/1038546122002898944 Rennae Stubbs:  "This is crazy!  If @serena only said you’re a thief, that’s unbelievable!!!!! I feel terrible for @Naomi_Osaka_ too. This is awful all around. The coaching violation was questionable. I see a ton of coaching from the box and that was marginal. The racket break was legit penalty."  https://twitter.com/rennaestubbs/status/1038541570411298816 Ramesh Krishnan: "It is unfortunate that when a young Japanese woman (Naomi Osaka) has won the championship, the focus is on this. Obviously, she (Serena) was under some sort of pressure. The incident reminded me of a similar one in the second round of the 1979 US Open between Ilie Nastase and John McEnroe." James Blake:  "I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And, I’ve also been given a “soft warning” by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation. He should have at least given her that courtesy. Sad to mar a well played final that way." Andy Roddick:  "He’s within his power to make that call. I’ve seen an umpire borderline coach a player up, and another dock a game for being called a thief in same tourney. There needs to be some continuity in the future."