Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown

[endicom]

Reuters
Steve Keating
Sept. 8, 2018

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final on Saturday, with the American suffering a mesmerizing meltdown after being handed a code violation.

It was drama-filled conclusion to a final that was rich with storylines but will now go down as one of the most controversial Grand Slam finals of all time.

There was much riding on the match for both women, with Osaka bidding to become the first man or woman from Japan to lift a Grand Slam singles title and Williams poised to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles.

More... https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-usopen-williams-osaka/osaka-beats-serena-to-win-first-grand-slam-title-idUSKCN1LO0UP

[Wingnut]

So what was controversial?

[goodwithagun]

Serena played the gender card, too. Like her opponent isn’t female

[Wingnut]

Serena played the gender card, too. Like her opponent isn’t female

Yellow beats back  black?

[goodwithagun]

Yellow beats back  black?

 Not sure. I think I read that Osaka’s part Japanese and part Haitian. That’s a tough one to use the race card on, but they’ve started.

[Wingnut]

Not sure. I think I read that Osaka’s part Japanese and part Haitian. That’s a tough one to use the race card on, but they’ve started.

Okay.   This might be interferstring.

[Polly Ticks]

Osaka played an incredible tournament and final. Serena behaved very badly and that was the real shame.

[Wingnut]

Osaka played an incredible tournament and final. Serena behaved very badly and that was the real shame.

A future Nike ad in the making?

[goodwithagun]

A future Nike ad in the making?

She’s actually part of the Kap Nike ad controversy.

http://www.tmz.com/2018/09/05/nike-colin-kaepernick-commercial/

[Polly Ticks]

Mouratoglou later admitted he had been coaching but in another strange twist an unrepentant Williams continued to deny she had received any advice and was instead a victim of sexism.

“He (Ramos) alleged that I was cheating, and I wasn’t cheating,” said Williams. “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.”

This is what drives me crazy about Serena.  She is an incredible athlete and an immensely talented tennis player, but then she goes and spouts off the most ridiculous tripe about what a victim she is. 

She was clearly badgering the chair umpire after two previous code violations, and it had absolutely nothing to do with her gender or women's rights.  Ugh.

It stinks for Osaka because she played well enough to win even without all the drama, but because of the spectacle from Serena all the joy was sucked right out of her first major victory.  Pretty much her entire time on the winner's podium was spent in tears.  It was really unfortunate.

[Wingnut]

If John Patrick McEnroe Jr were alive today i am sure he would have something to say about her loss.

[mountaineer]

Osaka is of Haitian and Japanese heritage, but has lived in the U.S. since childhood and holds dual Japanese-U.S. citizenship. During the match, 1) Serena's coach flashed hand signals to tell her to charge the net more. 2) Serena missed a shot and slammed her racket to the ground, rendering it unusable. 3) Serena berated the chair ump, insisting on her own ethical purity and accusing him of stealing the match from her. That third infraction resulted in the assessment of a one game penalty, and Osaka went on to win the second set.

Serena lost this match because Osaka outplayed her. The younger woman won in straight sets, and that's not the ump's fault. Throughout the match, the pro-Serena crowd booed every point Osaka scored. And then the tournament officials made it even worse at the awards ceremony:

It’s shameful what US Open did to Naomi Osaka
By Maureen Callahan
September 8, 2018 | 8:35pm

Naomi Osaka, 20 years old, just became the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam.

Yet rather than cheer Osaka, the crowd, the commentators and US Open officials all expressed shock and grief that Serena Williams lost.

Osaka spent what should have been her victory lap in tears. It had been her childhood dream to make it to the US Open and possibly play against Williams, her idol, in the final.

It’s hard to recall a more unsportsmanlike event.  ...

At the awards ceremony, Osaka covered her face with her black visor and cried. The crowd booed her. Katrina Adams, chairman and president of the USTA, opened the awards ceremony by denigrating the winner and lionizing Williams — whose ego, if anything, needs piercing.

“Perhaps it’s not the finish we were looking for today,” Adams said, “but Serena, you are a champion of all champions.” Addressing the crowd, Adams added, “This mama is a role model and respected by all.”   ...

NY Post

[mountaineer]

SI Tennis  Verified account @SI_Tennis

Serena: "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'."
6:51 PM - 8 Sep 2018
___________________________________________

Candace Owens  Verified account @RealCandaceO
25m25 minutes ago

Ah. Yes. Serena lost last night because of racism, sexism, misogyny and russian collusion. Not because Osaka played better.
I have pre-ordered her upcoming tell-all book “what happened”, so that I may better understand the topic of ‘butt-hurt on the tennis court’.

[mystery-ak]

It’s shameful what US Open did to Naomi Osaka
https://nypost.com/2018/09/08/its-shameful-what-us-open-did-to-naomi-osaka/

[mystery-ak]

Serena Williams reacts while being interviewed after her defeat to Naomi Osaka.

[sneakypete]

“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.

That's funny,I don't care who you are!

Nothing is more funny than seeing a multi-millionaire entertainer screaming about being a figurehead for justice. Get within 15 feet of her and she would have her bodyguards beat you to within an inch of your life unless you are recognized as being another multi-millionaire.

So what she is REALLY saying is that she stands for the rights of other homegurl multi-millionaire sports entertainment figures. Namely she and her sister,and she would push her sister under a bus if that is what it would take for her to win another championship.

[sneakypete]

So what was controversial? 

@The Ghost

Well,to be fair,the Japanese woman was not expected to win playing against a female that looks like a NFL linebacker. Strength does matter in tennis.

This was the linebackers match to lose,and she lost it by losing her cool.

Maybe they will give her an "Participant Trophy" and a T-shirt to make her feel good?

[sneakypete]

Serena played the gender card, too. Like her opponent isn’t female

@goodwithagun

Compared to her,most bricklayers look female.

[sneakypete]

This is what drives me crazy about Serena.  She is an incredible athlete and an immensely talented tennis player, but then she goes and spouts off the most ridiculous tripe about what a victim she is. 

@Polly Ticks

You can take the rat out of the hood,but you can't take the hood out of the rat. When people get mad,they fall back on what they know. In her case,she knows that anything bad that happens to her is someone else's fault.

It was her game to lose,and she did. She will never accept the blame for this,though. It's just not a part of her culture to accept blame for anything.

It stinks for Osaka because she played well enough to win even without all the drama, but because of the spectacle from Serena all the joy was sucked right out of her first major victory.  Pretty much her entire time on the winner's podium was spent in tears.  It was really unfortunate.

I couldn't agree more. Would it have killed Serena to have been even a TINY bit gracious and congratulated her opponent on the victory? And if it did,wouldn't that have made America a better place?

[sneakypete]

Serena Williams reacts while being interviewed after her defeat to Naomi Osaka.

@mystery-ak

I can't help it. Every time I see a photo of her on a tennis court,I wonder why somebody dressed a NFL linebacker as a female tennis player.

She had better hire a SERIOUS dietician to monitor her food intake once she retires,or she will balloon up to 500 lbs.

BTW,do female tennis players get checked for steroid use?

[mystery-ak]

Serena looks more muscular than fat....as far as the steroid use I have no idea if the Tennis Federation monitors that.

[LadyLiberty]

Just another Nike sponsored multi-millionaire who claims, simultaneously, to be both entitled and persecuted.

[sneakypete]

Serena looks more muscular than fat....as far as the steroid use I have no idea if the Tennis Federation monitors that.

@mystery-ak

That's why I say she looks like a NFL linebacker. She can probably bench press more weight than most men.  She has been working hard since she was a child to be a pro tennis player,and it shows.

[DCPatriot]

Adidas should grab onto that photo....use it as a meme headline.

Once again Nike only gives excuses. Adidas builds today's champions.

[Polly Ticks]

It’s shameful what US Open did to Naomi Osaka
By Maureen Callahan
September 8, 2018 | 8:35pm

Naomi Osaka, 20 years old, just became the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam.

Yet rather than cheer Osaka, the crowd, the commentators and US Open officials all expressed shock and grief that Serena Williams lost.

Osaka spent what should have been her victory lap in tears. It had been her childhood dream to make it to the US Open and possibly play against Williams, her idol, in the final.

It’s hard to recall a more unsportsmanlike event.  ...

At the awards ceremony, Osaka covered her face with her black visor and cried. The crowd booed her. Katrina Adams, chairman and president of the USTA, opened the awards ceremony by denigrating the winner and lionizing Williams — whose ego, if anything, needs piercing.

“Perhaps it’s not the finish we were looking for today,” Adams said, “but Serena, you are a champion of all champions.” Addressing the crowd, Adams added, “This mama is a role model and respected by all.”   ...

Excellent article and right on the money.