Serena Williams is one of the greatest sportspeople of all time and has accomplished great things on tennis court but the 2018 US Open final was not her finest hour.
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.
JUST IN:Serena Williams, Andela investors’ networth approaches $300 million
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.”
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.”
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.
