US Open champion Naomi Osaka tweeted Sunday she was "grateful" for the chance to take on childhood hero Serena Williams for her first Grand Slam title.
US Open champion Naomi Osaka tweeted Sunday she was "grateful" for the chance to take on childhood hero Serena Williams for her first Grand Slam title.
While sportspersons of her age group go berserk on social media even for a small achievement, Naomia despite becoming the first Japanese Grand Slam champion in the singles category has held her emotions well. She defeated former World No. 1 and her idol Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday.
It was unfortunate that her win was ruined by her idol and opponent of the match, Serena's rift with the chair umpire.
The match was tarnished by Serena’s second set outburst. Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos infuriated Serena when he handed her a warning for receiving coaching from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou from the stands.
When a second code violation for racquet abuse was handed out to her -- along with a point penalty -- Serena was left shattered and angered.
She tearfully accused Ramos of being a "thief" and angrily demanded an apology from the official.
"You're attacking my character," she said.
"You will never, ever be on another court of mine. You are the liar," she fumed and Ramos handed her a game penalty for a third violation -- verbal abuse -- that put Osaka one game from victory at 5-3 in the second set before the Japanese sealed the final 6-2, 6-4.
These events led to the crowd booing the chair umpire even when the two players took the stage for the trophy presentation. However, when Serena saw the new champion crying uncontrollably, she spoke to the crowd and ensured the booing stopped and the attention returned to Osaka.
Regardless of what Serena did, later on, she had anyway spoiled the moment for the 20-year-old, even if the latter did not speak a thing against her idol.
"So there's been a lot going on but I just want to say, I was grateful to have the opportunity to play on that stage yesterday. Thank you," tweeted the 20-year-old Osaka, who is projected to rise to seventh in the world rankings on Monday. She posed with her trophy at Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center in New York.
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