Serena Williams called umpire “thief” in staggering outburst during US Open
The 2018 US Open final should have been remembered as a momentous occasion for then 20-year-old Naomi Osaka but, instead, the story focused on the behaviour of tennis icon Serena Williams.
That final marked Osaka’s first ever Grand Slam title and, in doing so, she became the first Japanese woman to win a major. However, Williams lead many of the headlines as she smashed her racket and called the umpire a ‘thief’ in an outburst that will go down in history.
Williams, then aged 36, was swept aside by her Japanese opponent in the opening set, losing 6-2 in just 34 minutes, and also lost out in the second set 6-4. But the tennis on the court was hardly the talking point as an out-of-control Williams vented her rage at umpire Carlos Ramos during the match.
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Williams was initially given a code violation for ‘coaching’ from the box, which was the initial cause of her anger. She raged at under-fire umpire Ramos: “It was not coaching. I do not cheat to win. I would rather lose. I just want you to know that.”
Things got more heated when an under-pressure Williams was handed a point penalty by Ramos for smashing her racket.
Williams launched her second outburst, claiming: “I have never cheated in my life. “You owe me an apology! I have a daughter and I have not cheated in my life.”
(Image: Jaime Lawson/Getty Images)
Disgruntled fans watching the final then started to boo the umpire, at which point Williams lifted a hand towards the crowd to quieten them. She then unleashed a furious volley in Ramos ’ direction.
“You will never be on another court of mine as long as you live,” Williams added in another tirade towards Ramos. “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.”
(Image: Getty Images North America)
Those comments resulted in Williams being handed a code violation and docked a game. Osaka was a deserved winner of the final but, at the presentation and what should have been the happiest moment of her young career, fans started to boo officials.
Both Williams and Osaka were on stage in tears. Williams put a hand around her opponent’s shoulder before calling on the crowd to quieten.
Afterwards Williams said: “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.”
(Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Osaka repeated her success winning the US Open again in 2020 and she has also won the Australian Open twice. Meanwhile, 23-time Grand Slam winner is retiring after this year’s US Open – with first round matches taking place on Monday.
The American star returned from a lengthy spell out with injury to play at Wimbledon this summer, but went out following a first-round thriller with French player Harmony Tan. Next week’s tournament in New York will now represent her final chance to equal Margaret Court’s long-held record of 24 major titles.
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