It was a controversial culmination of the ladies’ US Open 2018 final. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams was given a series of penalties and also engaged in an altercation with the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos in the championship match against Naomi Osaka.
The American, Serena Williams told Harper’s BAZAAR magazine about spoiling Naomi’s win.
Following to her ordeal on her home turf, Williams apologized Naomi Osaka as she repented and had a remorseful intention about ruining the momentous event Naomi’s career.
“Hey, Naomi! It’s Serena Williams. 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 response from the World Number three tennis player, Naomi Osaka had brought tears in her eyes. “People can misunderstand anger for strength because they can’t differentiate between the two.
No one has stood up for themselves the way you have and you need to continue trailblazing,” Osaka replied.
The maiden Slam for Osaka turned out to be nearly close to a nightmare, and no tennis professional would want to live the special moment of their career under such circumstances and their dreams getting fulfilled at the cost of a controversy.
In a nutshell, Serena Williams holds herself responsible for the commotion that accompanied Osaka’s Grand Slam advent.
“It was in this moment that I realized the real reason the U.S. Open was so hard for me to get over: It wasn’t because of the backlash I faced but rather because of what had happened to the young woman who deserved so much more in her special moment.
I had felt that it was my fault and that I should have kept my mouth closed. But now, seeing her text putting everything in perspective, I realized she was right.”
The disgraceful event diminished her spirits of picking up the racquet, the media amplified the furore and consequently, she called off her 2018 tennis season after the final match at Flushing Meadows.
For now, the World Number eleven, Serena Williams is in a near-perfect form for the arrival of the 24th major title in her Grand Slam hoard.
She took out the American tennis player, Alison Riske in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Championships 2019 and she is just four more sets away from tying with Margaret Court’s record of Grand Slams. She will play Barbora Strycova in the semifinals of Wimbledon.
