Angry Serena Williams had furious row at US Open that left her accusing umpire of sexism and apologizing to Naomi Osaka

It is 10 years since the last of the incomparable Serena Williams won the last of her six US Open singles titles and 25 years since she won her first.

However it is the 2018 final at Flushing Meadows between Williams and Naomi Osaka that will go down as one of the most remarkable – but not only for Osaka’s breakthrough moment.

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The Japanese star is back in New York in 2024 – where she was also champion in 2020 – for the first time since giving birth to her first child and she faces 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday night.

In 2018, Osaka was the 20-year-old underdog, facing her idol on the biggest stage of her tennis life.

The fact that Williams was even on the tennis court was a miracle after being bed-ridden for six weeks in 2017 following the birth of her daughter Olympia.

She suffered life-threatening blood clots, but battled back to be involved in the final at the US Open just a year later.

Williams had her sights set on a 24th – and record-equalling – Grand Slim singles title, but it was Osaka who claimed the title, the first of her four to date.

However Williams was involved in a furious argument with umpire Carlos Ramos, as he gave her three code violations during the match.

The row had erupted after Ramos had judged her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, to have been coaching from the sidelines by using some hand gestures.

The heated back and forth had the American accusing the official of being a ‘thief’ for stealing a game from her and of sexism, believing her competitive edge would not have been called into question had it been a male player involved in a row with the umpire.

“I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief, because I thought he took a game from me,” she said in her press conference afterward,

“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.

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“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”. It blows my mind.

“I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions, and that wants to express themselves, and wants to be a strong woman.

“They’re going to be allowed to do that because of today. Maybe it didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.”

Billie Jean King was among those to support Williams, tweeting “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it.

“When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions. Thank you, Serena Williams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”

It was a position King pulled back on a few days later, but the debate raged on with many feeling Williams had raised valid points about on-court behaviour and others criticizing her reaction.

Williams vehemently denied the accusations of coaching, saying she would ‘never cheat to win and would rather lose’.

Mouratoglou later admitted to have been coaching her.

“I was coaching but I don’t think she looked at me,” he said. “Sash [Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin] was coaching as well. Everybody does it.”

The second code violation then came after she smashed her racket while Osaka was 3-2 up in the second set, meaning her opponent started the next game 15-0 up.

Williams continued her outbursts at Ramos at the following changeover, while the crowd booed in favour of the US superstar.

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“You are a liar. You will never be on a court of mine as long as you live. When are you going to give me my apology? Say you are sorry,” she demanded.

Ramos docked Williams a game, leaving Osaka at 5-3 and just one match away from victory.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner refused to take to the court, asking to speak to the tournament referee.

She did eventually go back out and held serve, before Osaka kept her nerve to win the title.

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Osaka was left in tears as the presentation ceremony got underway, and what should have been the best moment of her career, became memorable for another reason.

As boos rained down during the trophy presentation with Osaka said: “I’m sorry. I know that everyone was cheering for her, and I’m sorry that it had to end like this.

“I just want to say thank you for watching the match. 

“Thank you. … It was always my dream to play Serena in the US Open finals, so I’m really glad that I was able to do that. I’m really grateful that I was able to play with you. Thank you.”

Williams would later go on to apologise in a letter to Osaka, as she revealed in an essay in Harper’s BAAZAR.

“Not only was a game taken from me but a defining, triumphant moment was taken from another player, something she should remember as one of the happiest memories in her long and successful career,” Williams wrote. “My heart broke.”

She continued: “As I said on the court, I am so proud of you and I am truly sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing in sticking up for myself. But I had no idea the media would pit us against each other. I would love the chance to live that moment over again. 

“I am, was, and will always be happy for you and supportive of you. I would never, ever want the light to shine away from another female, specifically another black female athlete. I can’t wait for your future, and believe me I will always be watching as a big fan! I wish you only success today and in the future. Once again, I am so proud of you. All my love and your fan, Serena.”

The pair remain good friends off the court, despite the US Open debacle, with Osaka jokingly tagging Williams as ‘mom’ in a Twitter post in 2020.

The Japan tennis star would go on to win three more Grand Slam titles, two in Australia and one more in New York.

For Williams, she remained stranded on her 23 major singles titles as she lost two more finals before retiring from the game in 2022 after a third round defeat at Flushing Meadows.