WATCH: Serena Williams Has Explosive Confrontation With Umpire at US Open, Twitter Melts Down
On Saturday, Serena Williams did not exactly take kindly to a rule violation during the second set of the U.S. Open women’s singles final on Saturday.
And the resulting confrontation with the chair umpire turned into one of the wildest moments in tennis history.
Williams was playing Naomi Osaka when the chair umpire said she received illegal coaching.
Williams was assessed a code violation and given a warning. Moments later, Williams smashed her racket — resulting in a second violation, which resulted in the automatic loss of a point.
“I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose. I’m just letting you know,” snapped back at the umpire.
After being docked a game, Williams said: “That’s not right. That’s not right. You know my character.”
Williams then called the umpire, Carlos Ramos of Portugal, a “thief” for penalizing her a point. After this remark — the chair ump took the unfathomable step of penalizing Williams one game, with Osaka just two games from victory.
“There’s a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things and because they’re a man, that doesn’t happen to them,” Williams said.
The 20-year-old Osaka went on to defeat Williams in the final in a stunning victory that left both players emotional.
The crowd responded by booing, prompting Williams to tell them to stop.
Meanwhile, Twitter erupted over the Williams-umpire scuffle.
This #SerenaWilliams match is going to be a big story. She was penalized a point and then a full game! She made point men do much worse and are not penalized at all and she is right.
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) September 8, 2018
This US Open is a shit show.
— Colby Hall (@colbyhall) September 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/1038542114806743042
https://twitter.com/BasseyE/status/1038541276965158914
This match is such a case study in the b.s. women have to deal with: Serena Williams calling out a man for treating women differently and Naomi Osaka feeling like she has to apologize for winning.
The whole thing stinks on hot ice.
— Jen Chaney (@chaneyj) September 8, 2018
The umpire in Serena’s match was totally wrong. To dock her a game in that situation for that little is totally wrong. He’s gotta show more restraint and selflessness. We never want refs to make the game.
— Touré (@Toure) September 8, 2018
Serena hugged Osaka at the net and did not shake the umpire’s hand after the match. The umpire was vociferously booed as he left the court.
— Jamal Murphy (@Blacketologist) September 8, 2018
Osaka played the way you have to play to beat the greatest athlete of all time, but it should never have ended like this.
An umpire’s feelings should never decide a game. Serena is absolutely right that men say a lot worse things and never get a violation. Bad moment for sports.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) September 8, 2018
[image via screengrab]
