The women’s 2018 US Open final saw Naomi Osaka crowned champion after defeating the iconic Serena Williams in the final.
However, the Japanese star’s first Grand Slam victory was overshadowed by the legend’s outbursts at chair umpire Carlos Ramos during the match. She was fined £13,500 for calling the official a “liar” and “thief” after receiving three code violations during the heated encounter.
The money came out of the $1.85 million prize money Williams received for finishing runner-up at Flushing Meadows five years ago. The former world number one was given the first code violation for ‘coaching’ from the box, which caused her initial frustrations.
She told the official: “It was not coaching. I do not cheat to win. I would rather lose. I just want you to know that.” After the 23-time Grand Slam champion smashed her racket in a fit of rage, Ramos gave her a point penalty. “I have never cheated in my life. You owe me an apology!,” the American yelled. “I have a daughter and I have not cheated in my life.”
Williams was handed a code violation and docked a game after threatening Ramos would never officiate any of her matches again. As the crowd, the vast majority of who were supporting Williams, booed the umpire, she fumed: “You will never be on another court of mine as long as you live.
“You are attacking my character and you owe me an apology. You are a liar. You will never umpire on a court of mine as long as you live. Give me my apology. You stole a point from me and you’re a thief too.” Williams then demanded tournament referee Brian Earley make his way onto the court and when he appeared, accused him of sexism.
“Because I’m a woman, you’re going to take this away from me?” she asked, as Earley tried to reason with her. Despite the chaos on the other side of the net, Osaka, just 20 at the time and competing in her first Grand Slam final, maintained her composure and registered a 6-2, 6-4 victory. During the post-match trophy presentation, Osaka burst into tears as jeers reigned down from the rowdy New York crowd.
After putting her hand around her opponent’s shoulder, Williams said afterward: “I felt bad because I’m crying and she’s crying and she’s just won – I’m not sure if they were happy tears or if they were sad tears because of the moment. I felt like this isn’t how I felt when I won my first grand slam, I was like I definitely don’t think I want her to feel like that. Maybe it was the mom in me feeling we have to pull ourselves together.”
In the media press conference later on, Williams addressed her heated exchanges with the chair umpire. “I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things,” she said. “I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff.
“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.”
Whilst Williams has now retired from tennis, her astonishing US Open outburst will live long in the memory of one of the most infamous moments to take place in the iconic tournament.