The women’s US Open final was one to remember, but not for the typical reasons one would think. Serena Williams played Japan’s Naomi Osaka. Osaka had always dreamed of playing Williams in the US Open finals, and her dream came true, although the results may not have been what she was expecting.
The game started out drama-free and ended with Williams fined for three code violations. The first offense was a warning about coaching. This was when the problems began. Umpire Carlos Ramos initially issued a warning for coaching in the game’s second set as a code violation. Coaching is not allowed in the Grand Slam matches.
Williams immediately denied that she noticed the coaching. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, did admit that he had been trying to signal to Williams but did not think she saw him. In an article from ESPN, Serena’s coach said that Osaka’s coach was coaching every point too.
Carlos Ramos was a chair umpire for most of Rafa Nadal’s match and Nadal did not receive a warning. Serena told Ramos “I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose.” She was initially very calm when interacting with Ramos.
Serena later smashed her racket out of frustration and received a code violation for racket abuse and in turn received a point penalty. This gave Osaka an advantage. Serena then started adamantly denying that she received coaching, and insisting that Ramos owed her an apology. Williams took the warning as an attack on her character.
“I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her and I’ve never cheated and you owe me an apology.”
She later called Ramos a liar and said: “You stole a point from me, you’re a thief too.” Calling Ramos a thief was the last straw, Williams received another code violation, this time for verbal abuse. Osaka was supposed to serve, but Ramos called a game penalty.
Williams asked for the tournament referee’s judgment and pointed out that men have said much worse and have not received this sort of penalty for their actions. Williams pointed out the unfair treatment that she was receiving, and felt like it was because she’s a woman.
Tennis great, Billie Jean King, took to Twitter to congratulate Naomi Osaka and state her opinion on the Women’s Finals. King’s take is that coaching should be allowed, and players should not be penalized for their coaches actions.
(1/2) Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women’s Finals today. Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 9, 2018
In addition, she thanked Serena Williams for calling out the double standard that women face for expressing their emotions.
(2/2) When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “outspoken” & and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 9, 2018
There have been various takes on these events, with some tennis stars and veterans on Serena’s side, and some against her. If you’re interested in reading more about Billie Jean King’s perspective you can do so here.