Serena Williams Fined $17,000 For 3 Code Violations In U.S. Open Final
Updated 12:34 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 9
Naomi Osaka claimed her first Grand Slam title on Saturday after defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4, in the final of the U.S. Open. With the victory, Osaka became the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Williams was looking to win her 24th Grand Slam singles title, which would have tied her with Australia's Margaret Court for the all-time record. Williams lost after receiving multiple penalties from Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos — including a point penalty for breaking her racket, and then a game penalty for arguing with Ramos and calling him a "thief."
The game penalty came as a culmination of an on-going argument between Williams and Ramos. Earlier in the match, Ramos handed down a warning for coaching following hand gestures from Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Williams responded by telling Ramos: "If he gives me a thumbs up, he's telling me to come on. We don't have any code and I know you don't know that, and I understand why you may have thought that was coaching, but I'm telling you it's not. I don't cheat to win. I'd rather lose."
Ramos handed Williams a point penalty later in the night after she slammed her racket down, breaking it. The confrontation continued as an audibly upset Williams approached the umpire chair and demanded an apology from Ramos, while adamantly saying that she did not cheat and receive coaching.
"You owe me an apology, I have never cheated in my life," Williams yelled. "I have a daughter and I stand by what's right for her and I have never cheated. You owe me an apology. You will never do another one of my games."
The game penalty happened after Williams again demanded an apology from Ramos and then called him a "thief" saying that he "stole a point" from her with the previous penalty. Ramos said the the game penalty came as a result of verbal abuse from Williams.
Osaka then delivered a 114 mph serve to clinch the title. The two players met at the net and Williams congratulated Osaka on the win.
During the trophy ceremony, Williams addressed the crowd and its loud booing saying, "I don't want to be rude, I don't want to do questions. [Naomi] played well. This is her first grand slam," Williams said. "I know you guys were here rooting and I was rooting too, but let's make this the best moment we can and we'll get through it. Let's give everyone the credit where credit's due. And let's not boo anymore. We're gonna get through this and let's be positive. Congratulations, Naomi! No more booing."
Osaka then also responded to booing from the audience. "I know that everyone was cheering for [Serena] and I'm sorry it had to end like this. I just want to say thank you for watching the match."
The Associated Press reported on Sunday that Williams has received a total of $17,000 in fines for three code violations during the match. The U.S. Open referee's office is deducting $10,000 from her $1.85 million runner-up prize for her alleged "verbal abuse" of Ramos. Four thousand dollars were deducted for the coaching warning and $3,000 for breaking her racket.
During a press conference, Williams criticized the calls from Ramos as sexist.
"I've seen other men call other umpires several things and I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality ... and for me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark," Williams said. "He's never took a game from a man because they said thief. For me, it blows my mind. But I'm going to continue to fight for women." [Copyright 2018 NPR]
