That’s all from a wild, unforgettable day at the US Open. Have a look at Kevin Mitchell’s match report below and check back tomorrow for full coverage of the final day.
Serena Williams speaks at post-match press conference
Some excerpts from Williams’ post-match presser:
Q. You were very graceful at the end to not mention what happened before. Patrick Mouratoglou say that he gave you some sort of advice when you got the warning for coaching. So did you understand that? You didn’t realize?
SERENA WILLIAMS: So, I don’t know. I literally just heard that, too, when they prepped me to come in. I just texted Patrick, like, What is he talking about? Because we don’t have signals. We have never discussed signals. I don’t even call for on-court coaching.
I’m trying to figure out why he would say that. I don’t understand -- I mean, maybe he said, You can do it.
I was on the far other end, so I’m not sure. I want to clarify myself what he’s talking about.
Q. The umpire had to give you the warning?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, because I wasn’t being coached. If I look at my box and they say, C’mon, or, Good job, I don’t know what else to do. After that I didn’t even look at my box anymore.
Q. You mentioned how at this tournament something always seems to come up. When that was happening out there, were you flashing back to 2009? Does it bring up more things, piling on?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think, yeah, that’s hard for me. You know, I think it’s just instantly, just like, Oh, gosh, I don’t want to go back to 2004. Forget 2009, you know. It started way back then.
So it’s always something. But that’s also kind of, like, this game mentally that you have to play with. You know, sometimes it might seem like things always happen, but I don’t know the word I’m looking for. You just kind of have to, like, try to realize that it’s coincidence. Maybe it’s coincidence, so...
Q. Under the rules, all three violations issued by Carlos were correct. So why do you believe that he’s a thief?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Because he took a point from me. He alleged that I was cheating, and I wasn’t cheating. Then I had a good conversation with him. I said, Listen, you know my character. You know me really well. Like you know that I don’t even call for on-court coach. I don’t even do that.
He’s like, You know what? I understand. I don’t know if he said, You’re right. But he understood. He’s, like, Yeah, I get what you’re saying.
Then when I sat down, I said it again. I was, like, Just to be clear, I can understand what you saw because it may have looked -- just because I look at my box, it may have looked like I was getting coaching, but I’m telling you, that’s not what I do. I said, I’d rather lose than have to cheat to win. I don’t need to cheat to win. I’ve won enough. That’s never been something I’ve ever done, you know.
And he was cool. He was like, Oh, I get it. We had this great exchange. We were on the same page. We understood each other, and I felt that that was -- yeah.
Q. Do you think the chair umpire played any part in any outcome of tonight’s match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think that’s a really good question. I don’t know. I feel like she was playing really well, but I feel like I really needed to do a lot to change in that match to try to come out front, to try to come out on top.
It’s hard to say because I always fight till the end and I always try to come back, no matter what. But she was also playing really, really well. It’s hard to say that I wouldn’t have got a new level, because I’ve done it so many times in my career. So it’s a tough question.
Osaka to crowd, fighting back tears: “I know that everybody was cheering for her. I’m sorry it had to end like this. I just want to say thank you for watching the match.”
Williams, fighting back tears, addresses the crowd during the post-match trophy ceremony: “Well, I don’t want to be rude, I don’t want to do questions. [Osaka] played well, this is her first grand slam. I know you guys were here rooting. Let’s make this the best moment we can. Let’s not boo anymore. We’re gonna get through this and we’re gonna be positive. No more booing!”
Serena’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou says: “If I’m honest I was coaching, [but] I don’t think she looked at me.” He adds: “[Osaka’s coach] Sascha [Bajin] was coaching every point, too. This chair umpire was the chair umpire of most of Rafa’s grand slam finals and Toni is goiaching every single point so I don’t understand.”
Osaka wins 6-2, 6-4 to win championship!
Second set: Williams 2-6, 4-6 Osaka
Osaka hits a pair of winners for 30-15, then crushes a 113mph ace for double championship point. Williams saves the first with a backhand winner, but Osaka rips a 114mph service winner out wide for the title. She’s in tears, her entire box is crying. But Williams is standing in the center of the court and there’s a smattering of boos. This is going to be interesting.
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Second set: Williams 2-6, 3-5 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Unbelievable scenes at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Williams steps to the line to serve to stay in the tournament after a long, tearful conference with tournament referee Brian Earley. She opens with forehand winner than a 105mph service winner. She follows with a forehand winner at the net and service winner to hold at love, but Osaka will serve for the title after the changeover.
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Williams receives a game penalty for a court violation!
Serena to chair umpire: “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. ... And you stole a point from me. You’re a thief, too!”
That comment promoted a code violation for verbal abuse, which is a game penalty. Oh boy. This is about to get ugly.
Second set: *Williams 2-6, 3-3 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Williams starts the game at a love-15 disadvantage due to the point penalty and lets loose at the chair umpire, repeating that she’s never cheated at anything in her life and demanding an apology. When play finally resumes Osaka calmly holds at love.
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Osaka breaks in fifth game of second set!
Second set: *Williams 2-6, 3-2 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Williams rips a 117mph ace down the middle for 30-15, but follows with a double fault for 30-all. Then another double fault! Just when it seemed Williams’ serving woes had been resolved, she’s coming undone at a most inconvenient time. It’s a break point for Osaka and she converts it when Williams botches a backhand from the baseline. And Williams lays waste to a racket, earning a code violation, before walking to her chair. That’s going to be a point penalty due to the coaching violation earlier in the match.
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Williams breaks in fourth game of second set!
Second set: *Williams 2-6, 3-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Another pressure moment for Osaka, who falls behind love-30 on her serve. Yet she answers with a 98mph ace out wide and then rips a forehand winner for 30-all, punctuating it with a “Come on!” Now Osaka makes a crucial error, netting a backhand when she had Williams wrong-footed and vulnerable for 30-40. Break-pont chance for Williams and Osaka with a laser-guided forehand winner down the line to cap a 19-stroke rally, the longest of the day so far. Point of the match. Osaka follows with an returnable serve but moments later Williams has a second break point. Osaka looking frustrated. But she steps to the line and saves it with a 112mph ace out side. Williams earns a third break-point chance with a wicked return, but Osaka saves that one too with another big serve. Now Williams rips a backhand return winner down the line for a fourth break point and the pressure is back on Osaka. This stadium is ready to explode if Williams can break through here. And she does! It’s Osaka who blinks first, overcooking a backhand and giving the American her first break of the match.
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Second set: Williams 2-6, 2-1 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Williams falls behind love-15, then 30-40, and faces her third break point of the match. A big chance for Osaka here. But Williams saves it with a crisp forehand that forces Osaka into an error, then uncorks a gorgeous drop-shot winner in the midst of a grueling baseline rally that brings the crowd to their feet for game point. Another unforced error from the baseline by Osaka gives Williams the hold.
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Second set: *Williams 2-6, 1-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Osaka puts a hint of pressure on herself with another unforced error for love-15, but responds with three quick points for 40-15. Then Williams is given a violation from chair umpire Carlos Ramos for illegal coaching from her player box. She walks to the chair and tells Ramos: “I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose. I’m just letting you know.” (A TV replay does appear to show Patrick Mouratoglou motion Williams to go to the net more, but I guess that’s neither here nor there.) Naturally, Williams does come to the next on the next point and rips a backhand passing winner for 40-30, but Osaka closes out the hold with the unreturnable serve.
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Second set: Williams 2-6, 1-0 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Williams needed an easy hold after getting a bit shell-shocked in the opener and she gets one, breezing to a hold as Osaka chipped in a pair of unforced errors after making only four in the first set.
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Osaka wins first set, 6-2!
First set: Williams 2-6 Osaka
Osaka giving Williams no quarter on her serve, racing to 40-15 with a series of big offerings and closing it out with a 117mph unreturnable serve in to the body to take it after 34 minutes. That bodes well for the 20-year-old from Japan as neither player has lost a match in 2018 after winning the first set: Osaka is 31-0, Williams is 16-0.
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First set: Williams 2-5 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Osaka forces Williams into an error early in the point, then Williams double-faults, her fourth of the match, for love-30. Osaka is two points from taking the opener. But Serena, who seems to be pressing, rattles off four quick points for the much-needed hold. Osaka will serve for the set after the changeover.
First set: *Williams 1-5 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Williams wins a highlight-reel point on Osaka’s serve for love-15, but Osaka levels with a dazzling forehand passing shot with Williams coming to net. Williams hits a forehand winner and Osaka levels again with a service winner for 30-all. Then Williams rips a forehand volley winner for her first break point of the match at 30-40, but Osaka saves it with a 117mph ace down the middle. A mishit backhand from the baseline gives Williams a second break chance but Osaka saves that too. Two more big points off the serve and Osaka has escaped with the hard-won hold to move within a game of the first set. What a crucial hold!
Osaka breaks in fifth game of first set!
First set: Williams 1-4 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Williams races to 30-love on her serve, but mixes in an unforced error off the backhand side then double-faults again, her third of the match already for 30-love. Now Williams overcooks a forehand badly from just inside the baseline and Osaka has a break point for a chance at a double break lead. And she mishits a backhand, giving Osaka her second break after just 20 minutes. Williams continues to struggle on her first serves, getting only 9-of-20 (45%) in so far.
First set: *Williams 1-3 Osaka (*denotes next server)
Williams forces her opponent into an error early in a rally, putting a hint of pressure on Osaka at love-15. But Osaka responds with four quick points capped by a 106mph ace out wide for the easy hold of serve. They say it’s not really a break until you back it up with a hold in the next game – and Osaka just did it in style. Both players striking the ball beautifully today.
Osaka breaks in third game of first set!
First set: Williams 1-2 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Williams cracks an 118mph unreturnable serve, then nets a backhand from the baseline for 15-all. An unforced error makes it 30-15, but Osaka gets the best of Williams on 10-stroke rally that has the crowd on the edge of their seats for 30-all. On the next point Williams nets another forehand to gift Osaka a break-point opportunity, the first of the match for either player. And Williams double-faults! The 20-year-old from Japan has the first break of the match.
First set: *Williams 1-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)
A nervy opening for Osaka, who loses the first point after a short rally then double-faults for love-30. Osaka follows with a 112mph unreturnable serve, then forces Serena into a pair of errors with her massive forehand, running her from corner to corner on both. She then caps the game with sizzling forehand winner. Impressive: not only to hold from love-30 down, but the way she made Williams cover so much ground to win those points.
First set: Williams 1-0 Osaka* (*denotes next server)
Osaka wins the opening point, pouncing on a 92mph second serve and hanging in a 12-stroke rally until Williams makes an unforced error off the backhand side. Then Williams double-faults, betraying her nerves, falling behind love-30. On the next point Williams rips a forehand winner well out of Osaka’s reach to get on the board and the very pro-Serena crowd, even louder under the roof, explodes. Williams follows with a 115mph ace out wide for 30-all. Now Williams rocks Osaka with another big serve and comes to net to put away the meek return for 40-30, but Osaka is able to get it to deuce. Williams then cracks a 97mph serve with wicked slice for an ace and follows it with a forehand volley winner on the next point for the opening hold.
Warm-ups are over. Williams won the toss and has elected to serve first. We’ll be under way any moment now!
The players are coming down to the tunnel now. It’s Naomi Osaka first, who’s pulled aside by ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi for a pre-match powwow.
“Of course I feel like I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t nervous,” Osaka says. “So I’m a little nervous, but I’m also very excited.”
Asked about Serena, Osaka adds: “I’ve been watching her play grand slam finals since I was a little kid, so I’m just really honored that I have this opportunity.”
Next it’s Williams, who plays it close to the chest as usual.
On how it feels to reach the final: “Just so fantastic to have gotten this far. It’s just really great.”
On playing Osaka: “She plays well. She does everything well. We both want to go out there and win today.”
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A light rainfall has prompted the suspension of the doubles and wheelchair matches happening around the grounds. Yet today’s showcase match will go on thanks to the retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium. Deborah Cox has just performed America the Beautiful as the opening ceremony continues and we wait for the players to take the court for their warm-ups.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Flushing Meadows for the US Open women’s final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. There so much on the line at Arthur Ashe Stadium today. Williams, the No 17 seed, is seeking her seventh US Open title and record-tying 24th grand slam championship, equalling Margaret Court’s all-time mark, while Osaka, the No 20 seed, is looking to become the first Japanese player, male or female, to capture a major singles title.
It will be only the fourth time in the Open era that a player seeded No 10 or higher will win the US Open title after wild card Kim Clijsters (in 2009), Flavia Pennetta (2015) and unseeded Sloane Stephens (in 2017).
Williams, 36, can break her own record set at last year’s Australian Open as the oldest player to win a grand slam title, while Osaka, 20, is the youngest woman to reach the US Open final since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009. The age gap (16 yrs, 20 days) is the second widest between grand slam finalists in the Open era after the 1991 US Open final between Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova, who were 17 yrs, 45 days apart.
The players are about a half hour away from coming on court for their warm-ups. Plenty more to come from Queens!
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Kevin Mitchell’s lookahead to today’s final:
Naomi Osaka, remarkably, will reach for her first slam title here on Saturday with a calmer racket than Serena Williams, who has played at this level most of her career and will move alongside Margaret Court with 24 majors if she can beat her 20-year-old opponent.
Williams, who turns 37 this month, promised fans “this is just the beginning” after demolishing Anastasija Sevastova to qualify for her ninth home final, having won the first of six US Open titles in 1999 by beating the then world No 1 Martina Hingis.
It was an ominous statement of intent by the American, who is seven months into her comeback after enduring life-threatening complications when giving birth to her first child a year ago. Yet, for all her majesty, there is an underlying vulnerability in her makeup that has occasionally drained her powerful game of menace when she needed it, most dramatically here three years ago when she lost in the semi-final to the unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci, two wins short of a calendar slam. Williams was shattered.
The full article is below:
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