Serena Williams Loses U.S. Open Final Amid Controversial Code Violations

It was an historic moment for 20-year-old Naomi Osaka as she became the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam title, defeating all-time legend Serena Williams in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

But the moment was far overshadowed by the chair umpire Carlos Ramos penalizing Williams during the match, first taking a point away and then one game away.

Williams first received a warning in the first set for coaching. Then, when she smashed a racket when she was broken in the fifth game of the second set, Williams was hit with a point penalty for abuse of equipment. After a lengthy argument (labeling him a “thief”) and plea to Ramos demanding an apology, she was docked a game for verbal abuse. When play resumed, Williams held serve for 4-5, but Osaka then served it out to win 6-2, 6-4.

Williams’ first words to Ramos after the handshake were, “Can I get an apology?”