An angry Serena Williams gives referee Brian Earley an earful during her spectacular meltdown in the US Open final. Photo / AP
An angry Serena Williams gives referee Brian Earley an earful during her spectacular meltdown in the US Open final. Photo / AP
The events and arguing and booing that would make the women's US Open final unlike any other began when Serena Williams' coach made what she insisted was an innocent thumbs-up but the chair umpire interpreted as a helpful signal.
It was the second game of the second set, in apacked Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Williams' bid for a record-tying 24th grand slam title already was in real trouble because she was being outplayed by first-time major finalist Naomi Osaka.
Chair umpire Carlos Ramos warned Williams for getting coaching during a match, which isn't allowed. She briefly disputed that ruling, saying cheating "is the one thing I've never done, ever".
A few games later, Williams received another warning, this time for smashing her racket, and that second violation cost her a point, drawing more arguing. Williams called Ramos "a thief," drawing a third violation - and costing her a game.
"I have never cheated in my life!" Williams told Ramos. "You owe me an apology."
Soon, Osaka was finishing off a 6-2, 6-4 victory that made her the first player from Japan to win a grand slam singles title. That is not, however, what will be remembered about this match. With jeers bouncing off the arena's closed roof, both players wiped away tears during a trophy ceremony that was awkward for everyone involved.
Serena Williams argues with the chair umpire during a match against Naomi Osaka. Photo / AP
"I felt, at one point, bad, because I'm crying and she's crying. You know, she just won,'' Williams said. ''I'm not sure if they were happy tears or they were just sad tears, because of the moment. I felt like, 'wow, this isn't how I felt when I won my first grand slam ... I definitely don't want her to feel like that.''
This was only the latest in a series of high-profile conflicts with match officials for Williams at Flushing Meadows. It all dates back to 2004, when an incorrect call during a quarter-final loss to Jennifer Capriati was cited as the main reason for the introduction of replay technology.
Then came Williams' infamous tirade after a foot fault in the 2009 semifinals against Kim Clijsters, and a to-do over a hindrance call in the 2011 final against Sam Stosur.
Osaka is just 20, 16 years younger than Williams - and grew up idolising the American, even asking her to pose for a selfie together at a tournament just a few years ago. Their age difference was the second-widest gap between women's finalists at a slam in the professional era.
"I know everyone was cheering for her," Osaka told the crowd, "and I'm sorry it had to end like this."
Naomi Osaka hides her face after the final, flanked by Serena Williams. Photo / AP
What was most problematic for Williams was that she was unable to keep up with a version of herself. Osaka, who is coached by Williams' former hitting partner, hit more aces (6-3), hit the match's fastest serve (191km/h), had fewer errors (21-14), saved five of six break points and she covered the court better than Williams.
"She made a lot of shots," Williams said. "She was so focused."
Indeed, that was what might have been most impressive. Osaka never let Williams' back-and-forth with Ramos distract her, never wavered from playing terrific tennis. The one time Osaka did get broken, to trail 3-1 in the second set, she broke back immediately, prompting Williams to smash her racket.
That cost her a point, because of the earlier warning for coaching. Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou acknowledged afterwards that he did try to signal Williams but didn't think she had seen him - and added that he thinks every player gets coaching during matches.
When Ramos called in both players to explain the game penalty, which put Osaka ahead 5-3, Williams laughed, saying: "Are you kidding me?"
Then she asked to speak to tournament referee Brian Earley, who walked on court along with a grand slam supervisor. Williams told them the whole episode "is not fair''.
"There's a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things and because they are men, that doesn't happen."
