Women’s US Open final drama – was it sexism at play?

Before we delve into the drama, let’s first unpack what was a simply outstanding performance by Naomi Osaka, a worthy US Open winner.

Osaka dominated Serena from the start, overpowering her on offence and playing exceptional defence, giving Serena (who started nervous, struggling to get in her groove), not much chance to get into the match. Not overawed with playing her idol in her first grand slam final, the key factor in Osaka’s win was her composure on big points, winning four out of five break point opportunities whilst also consigning Serena to only one of six break point wins, a remarkable feat against Serena.

Osaka’s serve played a big part in preventing Serena from getting back in control throwing down a number of aces on big points.

If you have a spare five minutes, use it wisely to watch Osaka in the post-match presentation. Osaka, hearing the jeers of the crowd, hid underneath her visor whilst others were speaking, apologised to the crowd for beating Serena and handled the controversy humbly and with graciousness.

Despite her age (20), Osaka Is already a role model that I look forward to watching in the future, hopefully she might inspire my sons to get into tennis.

Unfortunately, Osaka’s performance has been overshadowed by Serena William’s battle with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. This has led to Serena and others calling what occurred as sexist. For those who did not watch the game, let’s break down each violation that Serena received.

Naomi Osaka of Japan kisses the trophy (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for USTA)

The coaching violation
Early in the second set Serena received a surprise warning for coaching. For those new to tennis, basically it is a rule that you cannot receive coaching in a match. Serena’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou used a hand gesture which caused the umpire to give Serena a violation for coaching.

Technically, this call was correct. However, I completely disagree with this call because this rule is so loosely enforced it is hardly a rule. As a tennis fan there have been many players that have regularly been accused for receiving coaching, Rafa Nadal being one and I do not think he has ever been called for it.

To call it on Serena, who as far as I am aware has never been accused of coaching is unfair, especially in such a big match. An umpire should use discretion in such circumstances and I would say he used it poorly in this instance.

You may argue that Serena’s coach confessed that he coached? You have to read the full quote to get the context:

“Well I’m honest, I was coaching, I don’t think she looked at me and that’s why she did not think I was, but I was like 100 per cent of the coaches in 100 per cent of the matches. So we have to stop this hypocrite thing, Sasha {Naomi’s coach] was coaching every point too. And it is strange because this chair umpire was the chair umpire for most of the finals of Rafa and Tony’s {Rafa’s coach] coaching every single point and he never gave a warning, so I do not really get it”

Basically, he is confirming that this rule is loosely enforced, if enforced at all. I think by Serena’s vehement defence of this violation being called clearly demonstrates that there were no hand signals between coach and player, therefore not deliberate cheating.

It was more of the common practice of a coach instinctively giving guidance, which is likely to be meaningless in the context of this match (as even if she saw it, she would have unlikely understood it) and how tennis is played more generally.

Serena Williams loses the plot in staggering US Open Final tirade

The racquet smash- Serena loses a point
Serena smashed and broke her racquet after her serve being broken which is standard code violation. It was the correct call.

Abuse of an umpire – Serena loses a game
Shortly after the racquet smash, in the second set at 4-3 (Osaka’s way). This is snippets of what Serena said according to reports:

“I explained that [I wasn’t getting coaching] to you and for you to attack my character … it’s wrong. You’re attacking my character. Yes, you are,”

“You owe me an apology. You will never, ever, ever be on another court of mine as long as you live. You are the liar.”

“When are you going to give me my apology? You owe me an apology. Say it, say you’re sorry.”

“Well then don’t talk to me. Don’t talk to me,”

“You stole a point from me, you’re a thief too.”

Let’s get this clear, what Serena said is completely wrong. To call out an umpires integrity is unprofessional and unfair and deserves a penalty. However, like all things this needs context.

I would suggest that in context that the umpire should have let this go, as I would argue that players historically have got no violation for broadly similar comments, compounding the tenuous nature of the first violation, whilst also having a strong impact on the outcome of the match.

Is it sexist?

I can understand how people could perceive that it is sexist, as the tenuous nature of the first call compounded by the discretion required for the third violation to dock a full game penalty. I am personally doubtful if a male tennis player, such as Marat Safin would have received similar penalties for the crimes.

Remember that this is the same tournament where Nick Kyrgios received a pep-talk from an umpire when he was off the boil in one of his matches.

Are there other potential explanations?

Carlos Ramos, is a well-respected umpire given the calibre of matches he has chaired (as he has chaired all grand slam finals), even Serena in her post match agreed that she has never had a problem with him before. I am unaware that he has ever been accused for being sexist, otherwise you would think he would not umpire a women’s grand slam final.

Interestingly, he has a history of being a stickler for code violations, even though former umpires have jumped to his defence for enforcing the rules, calling Serena to apologise to him.

Another potential scenario is that she was on the receiving end of harsh calls due to her previous poor behaviour at the US Open. Perhaps, tournament director Brian Earley instructed Ramos to be mindful of this, which led to Ramos enforcing the rules stricter than normal. These are the two key past incidents:

At the 2009 US Open Semi-Final, Serena lost her match against Kim Clijsters after saying the following to a line umpire who called her for a foot fault, handing Clijsters match point:

“I swear to God, I’m f—— going to take this f—— ball and shove it down your f—— throat”

In 2011, against beloved Aussie Sam Stosur she said this to the umpire after losing a point for hindering play, as Serena shouted come on before Stosur had got to the ball, impeding her play at the ball:

“We were in America last time I checked”

“Don’t look at me,” Williams shouted. “If we’re ever walking down the street, stay on the other side. You’re totally out of control. You’re a hater and you’re unattractive inside. What a loser.”

Looking at the collection of evidence of abuse Serena has given out at the US Open, you could see that this alternative scenario is plausible, especially with an umpire than can be a stickler, like Ramos.

This scenario creates a narrative that this episode is largely a result of Serena’s poor behaviour towards umpires at the US Open rather than sexism.

The broader picture
Since her incredible feat of winning the 2017 Australian Open final whilst pregnant Serena has quite rightly transcended into an iconic figure, particularly for women’s equality. She is deservedly considered the greatest woman tennis player to ever live.

She has several supporters agreeing with her that what occurred in the final was sexist, articles by other journalists and comments from other tennis players such as powerful tennis crusader Billie-Jean King, who said:

“Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women’s Finals today. Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen. 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, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”

Victoria Azarenka said:
“If it was men’s match, this wouldn’t happen like this. It just wouldn’t”

Despite this, I do have serious issues with Serena conflating that she was treated unfairly as an issue of equality. I know this sounds contrary given that I have said that it could easily be perceived as sexist but I disagree that her deplorable behaviour on court is an equality issue.

Even if some of the calls were harsh/unfair, Serena/or her coach, did something wrong all three times.

Personally, I think it is scapegoating from the bigger issue, which is Serena’s history of abusing umpires when she gets a questionable call when she is losing. It is trying to deflect owning up to her poor behaviour by arguing it is sexist. Yes, she is a competitor, but that does not give her a green light to abuse people.

It was disappointing that when she complained to the US tournament director that she called it out as sexist straight away, instead of owning up to her poor behaviour. The reality is Serena made it all about her when it should be all about Osaka. Serena did valiantly try to change it by asking the crowd not to boo during the presentation but it was too late by then.

I wonder if we would even be talking about this if Serena did not bring it up? Personally, if this occurred in 2015, before Serena did her incredible deeds as a mother (and afterwards), I believe the narrative would not be about the potential sexism, but her continual poor behaviour towards umpires that lost her a match and also perhaps about the questionable umpiring.

I can understand why people can believe it is sexist but on the whole I believe that Serena made her Tempur mattress and will now have to lie in it.

I think Serena summed it up well in her press conference when she said:

“Sometimes things in life doesn’t happen the way we want them but to always stay gracious and to stay humble and that is the lesson we can all learn from this, just like I did”

This is my opinion, but what about yours? Do you think that what occurred to Serena was sexist? If you think it was do you think it is right for her to say that it was sexist even when it is because of deplorable behaviour?

Should sexism be called out even if it is to point out potential discrepancies in punishing poor behaviour?