XtraTime Web Desk: Serena Williams’s aim of winning her 24th major title shattered with tears, anger and code break. Not only that she also faced a rare game penalty due to furious rows with the officials. The controversy also overshadowed 20-year-old Naomi Osaka record who became the first player from Japan to win a grand slam.
“I don’t want to be rude. She played well. Let’s make this the best moment we can, let’s not boo anymore,” said Williams.
Then it was Osaka’s turn, and she looked more devastated than delighted. She even wound up apologising for having beaten the crowd’s favourite in scenes that surely have little precedent in this or any other sport.
The 36-year-old was handed a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for racquet abuse and a game penalty for calling umpire Carlos Ramos a “liar and a thief” and insisting “you owe me an apology”.
“He alleged that I was cheating, and I wasn’t cheating,” Williams told reporters later.
“I don’t use on-court coaching (where it’s allowed at WTA tour events).
“One thing I love about tennis is being out there. It’s the one time I don’t want to hear anyone tell me anything. You have to figure out. You have to problem-solve.”
Williams said that her coach Patrick Mouratoglou had not been coaching her even though the Frenchman told ESPN that he had and that all coaches do it.
“I just texted Patrick, like, What is he talking about? Because we don’t have signals. We have never discussed signals,” said Williams.
Williams said the incident strengthened her belief that women players are treated differently to their male counterparts in the sport.
“I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality,” she claimed.
“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’. For me it blows my mind. But I’m going to continue to fight for women.”