US Open: Osaka defeats Serena in dramatic final

There were astonishing scenes in the US Open final as Serena Williams lost to Naomi Osaka and had a furious row with umpire Carlos Ramos.

Published : Sep 09, 2018 07:51 IST , New York

Naomi Osaka with the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams in the final.
Naomi Osaka with the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams in the final.
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Naomi Osaka with the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams in the final.

Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam title after she registered an emphatic 6-2, 6-4 win over Serena Williams in the finals of the U.S Open. 

Osaka got off to an aggressive start in the first set, breaking the six-time US Open champion twice. She used her tremendous movement and brutal baseline hitting to close the set in just 33 minutes.

An extraordinary series of events then began to unfold during the second set when Williams was awarded a code violation because her coach was allegedly coaching her from the stands. An enraged Williams smashed her racquet on the court, which resulted in a subsequent violation, during with Osaka was handed a point.

Read: What Kei Nishikori had predicted before the US Open final

“I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose,” she was heard telling the chair umpire. 

Williams then got into an intense argument with the chair umpire following which she was given a game penalty. Williams held back tears but still managed to hold serve for 6-4.

The penalty gave Osaka — who stayed calm, cool and collected in the face of all the drama — a crucial lead in the second set and she served out the match a game later. 

A cascade of boos rained down on the trophy presentation ceremony that followed. 

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Serena Williams argues with the umpire during the match.

After receiving her runner-up trophy, Williams said, “I just want to tell you guys, she played well and this is her first Grand Slam. But I know you guys are here rooting and I was rooting, too. And let’s make this the best moment we can.

“Let’s not boo anymore. We’re going to get through this and let’s be positive. Congratulations, Naomi. No more booing. It’s been a tough year for me but thank so you so much.”

Williams was bidding to win her 24th Grand Slam title, equalling Margaret Court’s record. She was also playing to win her first Major, after giving birth to her daughter last year.

 

REACTIONS TO SERENA WILLIAMS OUTBURST  AT THE US OPEN

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