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.

[Polly Ticks]

Speaking of money ...

Serena Williams was fined $17,000 for three code violations during Saturday’s U.S. Open final that caused the tennis player to be penalized a game when she criticized the chair umpire for a controversial call and labeled him a “thief.” 

The tournament referee's office announced Sunday it docked Williams $10,000 for "verbal abuse" of chair umpire Carlos Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching and $3,000 for breaking her racket.

The money comes out of her prize money of $1.85 million as the runner-up.

Serena Williams Fined $17,000 for Violations During US Open Final

[Polly Ticks]

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

They do monitor, yes.

LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams says it isn't fair that she has been drug-tested more than other American tennis players this year.

"Just test everyone equally," the seven-time Wimbledon champion said Sunday at a pre-tournament news conference.

She was asked about the issue because of a recent report by Deadspin that said Williams had been checked five times in 2018 by June, more than other U.S. women and men in the sport.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/07/serena-williams-says-its-unfair-shes-drug-tested-more/74918/

[musiclady]

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

That wasn't the point she was making.

Not excusing her outburst, but male tennis players have been far more out of line without punishment than she was.

It's a valid point.  Male athletes are allowed to be babies without criticism or penalty, even with praise.

That said, I don't think ANY athlete should act like a child, including Serena.

[musiclady]

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

This ^^^

[mountaineer]

Rita Panahi  Verified account @RitaPanahi
14h14 hours ago

Was Serena “sticking up for women’s rights” when she threatened violence against a female line judge in 2009 at the US Open or when she abused a female umpire during 2011 US Open or when she threatened to sue a female umpire at Wimbledon in 2016...

[Wingnut]

Has Serina ever taken a chromosome test?

[mystery-ak]

Has Serina ever taken a chromosome test?

She just had a baby a year ago so my guess she is female..

[mountaineer]

Richard Ings was a professional chair umpire from 1986 to 1993 and was ATP Tour Executive Vice-President, Rules and Competition, from 2001 to 2005. He was ump for the 1987 U.S. Open McEnroe match, where Johnny screamed and cursed at him. He writes:

... As someone that has sat in the umpire’s chair in front of a raucous full house US Open crowd and been tested under fire in front of a global television audience, I have a great deal of empathy and admiration for Ramos and his officiating.

In the course of this match, Ramos issued a warning, a point penalty and a game penalty against Williams for violations of the grand slam code of conduct.  The warning was triggered when Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, made clear and repeated coaching gestures to his player on the court.  For a professional umpire, keeping an eye on the coach is standard practice. All coaches know that such hand gestures are a breach of the code of conduct.

The point penalty was triggered when Williams destroyed her racquet on the court after having her serve broken. Apart from the bad look for the sport of a player violently breaking a racquet on court, it is also dangerous to on-court officials, ball persons and front-row spectators as shards go flying.

All players know that destroying a racquet on the court is a mandatory code violation.

The game penalty was triggered after Williams, in a lengthy tirade, loudly accused the umpire of being a "thief" stealing points from her. Ramos let the tirade slide, showing great composure until Williams accused him of cheating.

All players know that publicly attacking the honesty of the umpire is going to result in an immediate code violation.

Ramos made absolutely the correct calls as a chair umpire in each of these three incidents.  ...

He concludes:

However, Williams faced neither sexism or racism in this grand slam final. We should not let her record, as glowing as it is, overshadow the fact that on this day, in this match Williams was wrong.
Loading

The decisions made by Ramos had nothing to do with sexism or racism. They had everything to do with observing clear breaches of the grand slam code of conduct and then having the courage to call them without fear or favour.

Read the whole thing at Sydney Morning Herald

[truth_seeker]

I have read and heard, about how hard it is to remain at the top of rock music stardom. I think that world class athletes have a similarly tough challenge, to keep going.It I is nothing new. One new top performer was advised by Quincy Joes, they had about four years, or so.

Leon Russell, who rose rapidly to stardom , wrote a song about it "Tight Rope" (He had been in the business as a top notch studio session musician for years, But when he hit the top. But he didn't last long at that level.)

The Beatles broke up. The Eagles broke up.

So compared to their peers, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods and Tom Brady have far exceeded expectaions.

Bjorn Borg's retirement at age 26 is noteworthy.

! No longer available

[Wingnut]

Richard Ings was a professional chair umpire from 1986 to 1993 and was ATP Tour Executive Vice-President, Rules and Competition, from 2001 to 2005. He was ump for the 1987 U.S. Open McEnroe match, where Johnny screamed and cursed at him. He writes:
He concludes: Read the whole thing at Sydney Morning Herald

Nice.  Puts it in perspective.

[mountaineer]

...   Now if this had been Venus Williams—one of the classiest and most gracious players of her generation—you might be able to read the sequence as an aberration, a moment where a player, in the heat of battle, was finally pushed over the line. Maybe she was wrong, but it's just a one-off.

But if you read it in the context of Serena's career, you see it for what it is: bullying.

Serena has a history of lashing out in big matches when she's getting beaten by inferior players. In 2009, Serena was getting worked by Kim Clijsters in the semis at the U.S. Open when she got called for a foot fault—again, the call itself was correct. She exploded in a tirade against the (female) line judge that included a physical threat.  ...

In two of the three incidents, the supposedly wicked officials were women. In all three of them, Serena lost in straight sets to players who aren't even close to her league. Seen in this context, Serena's Saturday night outburst looks less like a "strong woman" being abused by an overreaching, sexist official and more like a bully trying to build an alibi for herself as she's losing a big match.  ...

Jonathan V. Last, "Serena Williams Got What She Deserved."

[dfwgator]

Leon Russell, who rose rapidly to stardom , wrote a song about it "Tight Rope" (He had been in the business as a top notch studio session musician for years, But when he hit the top. But he didn't last long at that level.)
 

Billy Joel wrote a song with a similar sentiment...

! No longer available

[Sanguine]

How awful for Osaka, to see her hero pitch a fit and act like a spoiled two-year old because Osaka beat her.

[Bigun]

Im sure she will sorely miss that  $17K. /s

[skeeter]

Jonathan V. Last, "Serena Williams Got What She Deserved."

Although I appreciate what the writer said about Serena deserving credit for never playing the race card, I'm not sure she deserves it - her sport truly is an international one. She'd be impugning literally EVERYONE & I do not believe she'd get the same sympathetic hearing she'd get here in the States alone.

Calling the occasional male judge out out as a sexist is relatively safe. And of course it will suffice to just threaten to stuff your racket down the errant female llne judge's throat.

[LucasWhite]

 

[LucasWhite]

 

[mountaineer]

Im sure she will sorely miss that  $17K. /s

Maybe Nike will pay it for her. 

[jmyrlefuller]

That wasn't the point she was making.

Not excusing her outburst, but male tennis players have been far more out of line without punishment than she was.

It's a valid point.  Male athletes are allowed to be babies without criticism or penalty, even with praise.

That said, I don't think ANY athlete should act like a child, including Serena.

Hold it. There is one big distinction.

Athletes, male and female, frequently, in the passion of the game, get upset. Most are punished. Unsportsmanlike conduct is a foul in every sport. But never, in my decades of life, have I ever heard any top level athlete tell an official "you owe me" anything. That's the line Ms. Williams crossed. It's not the anger or frustration; that's always been part of sport. It's the entitlement.

[jmyrlefuller]

Maybe Nike will pay it for her. 

"Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing a nominal fine."

[Suppressed]

Not the first time...  check out 1:00 and 1:55
! No longer available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNwc7o_0Sgg

[Polly Ticks]

Im sure she will sorely miss that  $17K. /s

Right?  I mean, it was almost a whole PERCENT of her paycheck.  Ouch.

[sneakypete]

Right?  I mean, it was almost a whole PERCENT of her paycheck.  Ouch.

@Polly Ticks

It's not about the money lost from losing one match at her level. It's about ego,and EVERYBODY that is successful in life has a huge ego. You just can't be uber successful in life without being having an immense amount of self-confidence in your abilities.

Some people just seem to hide it better than others.

BTW,I just saw the press conference after the match today,and Serena stepped up to the line and congratulated and praised the young woman who beat her. Even smiled while hugging her. IMNSHO,this redeemed her character. That's not something easy to do in a competitive business,and the sports business is about as competitive as it gets.

My hat is off to her. Class move.

[musiclady]

Hold it. There is one big distinction.

Athletes, male and female, frequently, in the passion of the game, get upset. Most are punished. Unsportsmanlike conduct is a foul in every sport. But never, in my decades of life, have I ever heard any top level athlete tell an official "you owe me" anything. That's the line Ms. Williams crossed. It's not the anger or frustration; that's always been part of sport. It's the entitlement.

Point taken.

Just for the record, again........... there is NO excuse for Serena's behavior, and for the negative impact it had on Osaka's well deserved win.

The point I was making, and stand by, is that there is a standard of behavior for women in sports (and other competitive activities) that is not the same for men.  Men are allowed more aggression without criticism most of the time.  Women are not.

[Sanguine]

@Polly Ticks

It's not about the money lost from losing one match at her level. It's about ego,and EVERYBODY that is successful in life has a huge ego. You just can't be uber successful in life without being having an immense amount of self-confidence in your abilities.

Some people just seem to hide it better than others.

BTW,I just saw the press conference after the match today,and Serena stepped up to the line and congratulated and praised the young woman who beat her. Even smiled while hugging her. IMNSHO,this redeemed her character. That's not something easy to do in a competitive business,and the sports business is about as competitive as it gets.

My hat is off to her. Class move.

I heard a commenter saying that Serena is the best tennis player right now, but she's definitely not a champion.