“I have never cheated”. Controversy as Serena lose Tennis final to Japanese newcomer Naomi Osaka.

Flushing Meadows, New York-The normally well-behaved Tennis games had erupted in controversy of cheating and accusation of sexism as Serena Williams lost the 2018 US Open final to Japanese newcomer Naomi Osaka.

Saturday 8th 2018 Serena faced off with twenty years old Naomi Osaka.  This is Osaka’s first Grand Slam Title. She admits to love and idolizes the tennis super star. When asked by the reporter, what is her message to Serena before they face each other in the US Open final, she replied, “I love you.”

The controversy began when Serena was penalized by umpire Carlos Ramos when he accused her of getting coaching  from the stands.

Ms. Williams was given her first code violation in the second game of the second set after Ramos adjudged her coach Patrick Mouratoglou of coaching from the stands – something which is currently banned in tennis. Williams claimed she didn’t see any gesture from Mouratoglou but he later admitted to ESPN that he had been – or at least had been trying – to give her signals. “I was coaching but I don’t think she looked at me,” Mouratoglou said. “Sash [Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin] was coaching as well. Everybody does it.”

The umpire then handed out another code violation and docked a point after Serena Williams smashed her racket in anger after losing on her serve in the second set. At the next changeover, Ms. Williams decided to confront Ramos.

Serena Williams argued with umpire Carlos Ramos during the final

After being penalized for throwing her racket early in the second set Serena confronted the umpire: ‘This is unbelievable. Every team I play here I have problems.

‘I didn’t get coaching, I didn’t get coaching. I didn’t get coaching. You need to make an announcement that I didn’t get coaching. I don’t cheat, I didn’t get coaching. How can you say that?

‘You owe me an apology. You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what is right for her and I’ve never cheated. You owe me an apology”.

After being broken to trail 4-3 in the second set:

‘I never got coaching. I explained that to you and for you to attack my character then something is wrong. You’re attacking my character. Yes you are. You owe me an apology.

‘You will never, ever, ever be on another court of mine as long as you live. You are the liar. When are you going to give me my apology? You owe me an apology.

‘Say it, say you’re sorry. Then don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me. How dare you insinuate I was cheating? You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too.’

After being docked a game:

‘Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Because I said you were a thief? You stole a point from me. I’m not a cheater. I told you to apologise to me. Excuse me I need the referee, I don’t agree with that.’

With tournament referees:

‘This is not right… [INAUDIBLE]… He said I was being coached but I was not being coached. That’s not right. You know me. You know my character. This is not fair. This has happened to me too many times. This is not fair. To lose a game for saying that is not fair. Do you know how many men do things that are much worse than that? This is not fair.

‘There are a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things and because they are a man it doesn’t matter. This is unbelievable. No I don’t know the risk because if I say a simple thing, a thief, because he stole a point from me.

‘There are men out here that do a lot worse and because I’m a woman you’re going to take this away from me. That is not right. And you know it and I know you can’t admit it, but I know you know that is not right. I know you can’t change it but I’m just saying that is not right.

‘I get the rules but I’m just saying it’s not right. It happens to me at this tournament every single year and it’s not fair. That’s all I have to say.’

Post-match press conference:

‘I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief, because I thought he took a game from me.

‘But I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said “thief”. It blows my mind.

‘I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions, and that wants to express themselves, and wants to be a strong woman.

‘They’re going to be allowed to do that because of today. Maybe it didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.’~ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-6147775/FULL-TRANSCRIPT-Serena-Williams-entire-outburst-Open-final.html?ito=social-facebook

Serene accused the umpire of sexism. Some fans agreed with a mix reaction

‘I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief, because I thought he took a game from me. ‘But I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said “thief”. It blows my mind, she said.  

Serena ending losing the match to Osaka won 6-2 6-4. There were cheers and boos and both athlete were left in tears. In the end Serena bowed out gracefully as she asked the crowd to support Naomi Osaka

Courtesty of ESPN~From boos to cheers. An emotional and powerful moment for Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams at the US Open podium.