Naomi Osaka from Japan entered the 2018 US Open as the 20th seeded player and wasn’t even in the consideration of winning the Grand Slam before Sunday. However, in the final, after defeating the tennis great Serena Williams, she shocked the world with her sterling performance. During the entire tournament, she only dropped a couple of sets.
Even in the final at Flushing Meadows, she won in straight sets by 6-2, 6-4. The young player became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam. However, apart from her spectacular display of work with the racket, the match was also a witness to a bizarre incident, which occurred after Serena comprehensively lost the first set.
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Williams was given a code violation at 2-1 in the second after Carlos Ramos, the chair umpire, ruled that Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena’s coach, was signaling tactics to her, something which isn’t allowed in lawn tennis. As a result of the same, she lost her cool, lashed out at the chair umpire and said, “We don’t have any code. I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.”
Thereafter, Ramos gave her another code violation following which she vented her anger by smashing her racket on the turf at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She further exploded, “I didn’t get coaching. You need to make an announcement that I don’t cheat. You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her. I have never cheated.”
In the meantime, Osaka couldn’t receive the desired accolades for her maiden title win as the venue was filled with boos after the conclusion of the match. She stood with the trophy and cried. After her victory, Kevin Anderson, the South African player, who bowed out in the Round of 16 against Dominic Thiem, came out in support of Osaka and lauded her for her superlative show on the court.
AB de Villiers, the former South African cricketer, also hailed Osaka and said that Serena could’ve handled the situation better. He took to Twitter and wrote, “No one deserves to win your 1st major with the sound of booing around! Serena should have handled the situation better. Give the young girl her moment in the spotlight. All professional athletes have moments where we feel hard done by, u keep your head down & try to fight it out.”
No one deserves to win your 1st major with the sound of booing around! Serena should have handled the situation better. Give the young girl her moment in the spotlight. All professional athletes have moments where we feel hard done by, u keep your head down & try to fight it out
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) September 9, 2018
