This Is What Happened To Serena Williams At The U.S. Open, And Here’s Why It’s Important To Talk About

Onlookers can bank on each year’s final match of the U.S. Open to be filled with tension. But this year’s Saturday, September 8th, final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka was unique. Williams was charged with three questionable code violations by chair umpire Carlos Ramos in the second set. And unfortunately, the 2018 U.S. Open headlines were all about Williams’ emotional reaction rather than Osaka’s win.

Williams was first accused by Ramos of receiving an illegal coaching signal from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. She was issued a verbal warning and, although she denied any form of cheating, Williams ultimately understood why Ramos had thought differently.

“We don’t have any code,” Williams told Ramos, referring to herself and Mouratoglou. “I know you don’t know that, and I understand why you may have thought that was coaching, but I’m telling you its not. I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.”

But even though no points were taken away, it was the accusation of cheating that tripped Williams up and ignited future actions.

The game did not continue to go well for Williams and her lead over Osaka was slipping. In a fit of frustration, Williams smashed her racquet on the court, which forced Ramos to penalize her again by taking a point away from her in the next game.

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Believing that the racquet abuse should have been her first verbal warning because she thought the cheating allegation was erroneous, Williams approached Ramos again.

“You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life,” Williams reminded Ramos. “I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her and I’ve never cheated. You owe me an apology.” She later called Ramos a “thief,” which earned her another game penalty for “verbal abuse.”

Post match, onlookers and Williams herself questioned whether she received fair treatment in comparison to male tennis players who have done a lot worse on the court and used much fowler language with the umpire. (See Jimmy Connors’s 1991 “tirade.”)

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Former female tennis star Billie Jean King stated, “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoke’” & and there are no repercussions.” King and many others are applauding Williams for blatantly calling out the sexist nature of the game.

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At the end of the match, despite her quarreling with Ramos, Williams gladly hugged Osaka and congratulated her on the win. Sadly, and undoubtedly against Williams’ wishes, Osaka’s victory has been overshadowed by the problematic treatment and news coverage of her opponent.

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Not only does the 2018 U.S. Open final and Williams’ comments highlight a riff in the treatment of men and women in professional tennis (and other professional sports), but the way Williams’ reaction was called “hysterical” and how she was depicted as having a “break down” also shows that media coverage of women has a long way to go.

Whether or not one agrees with the way Williams handled the situation, we can all agree that there are inconsistencies in the game and treatment of players based on who is umping the match. Ultimately, bringing attention to sexism in her sport was an important thing for Williams to do and we know that she, being the best female tennis player of all time, will rise again.