Serena Williams lost the US Open women’s final to Naomi Osaka on Saturday, September 8, after arguing with the umpire, who accused her of getting illegal coaching.
Chair umpire Carlos Ramos gave the tennis champ, Serena Williams, a violation, claiming that she’d received illegal coaching from her player box during the first set of the match during the final of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in NYC.
“I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose,” the 23-time Grand Slam champ told Ramos, explaining that she’d gotten a thumbs up that was not coaching.
Williams, 36, subsequently smashed her racket and was given a code violation warning that led to a point penalty.
“I didn’t get coaching. You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her. I have never cheated. You owe me an apology.”
She was given a game penalty and demanded that the tournament umpire be brought onto the court, where she continued her complaint.
“This is not fair. This has happened to me too many times,” she said. “Do you know how many other men do things that are a lot worse than that … It’s because I’m a woman.”
Williams went on to lose the match.
Williams’ fury bled into the crowd, which booed during the trophy presentation. Williams called for calm and put her arm around a distraught Osaka, but the damage was done.
