Naomi Osaka won her first Grand Slam title after upsetting 23-time major champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the US Open final. JUANDRE JOUBERT reports.
Osaka became Japan’s first Grand Slam champion after completely dominating Williams, breaking her twice and saving two break points to take the opening set 6-2.
Williams took a 3-1 lead in the second after breaking Osaka in the third game, but Osaka broke back in the very next game as the set went back on serve.
There was a lot of controversy as Williams received a code violation for ‘coaching’ as her coach made a hand-signal and the referee deemed that he was coaching her, which is not allowed.
Williams was not happy about that and argued with the umpire, saying, ‘I don’t cheat, I’d rather lose’.
You cannot continue to degrade a person and expect them not to finally pounce back. @serenawilliams has consistently displayed perseverance and grace but she is not to be made a fool of. “Let this be a remind to all… I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose.” #usopen pic.twitter.com/5Vwlebh7yx
— Ryan Jamaal Swain (@RyanJamaal) September 8, 2018
Williams received a second code violation for smashing her racket when she lost a point, that resulted in a point-penalty.
What happened next shocked a lot of people. Osaka broke Williams to take a 4-3 lead and she extended that to 5-3 without hitting a ball. Williams insisted that the umpire apologise to her because he ‘stole a point’ from her.
“You owe me an apology…you stole a point from me..that’s not right.” Serena has HAD IT with this umpire. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/7yqwoL6eRg
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 8, 2018
She then proceeded to call him a ‘thief’. The umpire called a third code violation on Williams for ‘verbal abuse’ and penalised Williams with a game penalty.
The crowd booed to show their displeasure.
Williams asked to see the match referee and argued that she got penalised with a game because she is a woman and that men get away with much worse. The American was in tears and clearly not happy about the whole situation.
While all of this was happening, Osaka just turned away and kept focused.
The crowd loudly cheered every point as Williams won the next game to make the score 5-4.
Osaka then served for the championship in the next game and claimed her first Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Photo: @Tennis/Twitter
