Serena Williams involved in US Open final sexism row with umpire
Serena Williams was involved in a hugely controversial US Open final, with the American having a point and a game deduction in her loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in New York, the Mirror report.
The 36-year-old, who was searching for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam, was given three code violations during the 6-2 6-4 defeat to Osaka in Flushing Meadows for apparent coaching, abuse to the umpire and smashing her racket.
Williams then brandished Portugese chair umpire Carlos Ramos a “thief” and a “liar” during the defeat, with the American believing that a man wouldn’t have got the penalty for saying the same things.
Talking after the defeat, a disappointed and angry Williams said:
For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.
I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. He’s never taken 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 and to fight for us to have equal – like Alize Cornet should be able to take off her shirt without getting a fine.
Following the match, the American crowd jeered throughout the trophy presentation, with former world number one Williams pleading for the boos to stop so the 20-year-old could celebrate becoming the first Japanese player to win a major.