Comment: Serena Williams should apologize to Osaka and Ramos

Serena Williams turned the wheel in the final of the US Open. The deserved winner, Naomi Osaka, suffered. And the chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

Me, myself and I. That’s what the tennis circus is about, and maybe it has to be. Those who take into account the sensitivities of their opponents have already lost. But if you behave like Serena Williams at the US Open 2018 in a Grand Slam final, you might have a reason to do so. Which, however, excuse little to nothing.

Of course, it is debatable whether Carlos Ramos had to issue a warning against Williams after the first game of the second set because of coaching.

That Mouratoglou admitted to actually shouting something to Serena after the match takes the Umpire out of the shot. The fact that Serena didn’t want to know about this at the press conference is more a sign of a communication problem with her trainer.

Whether the coaching rule makes sense or not is irrelevant. Ramos saw and punished a violation. Serena’s apology to Ramos should actually come from the player.

Because even after that Carlos Ramos proceeded according to all the rules of refereeing. The second warning about the smashing of the bat was a no-brainer, the following verbal thunderstorm towards the referee’s chair so furious (Serena Ramos repeatedly called a “thief”) that the Portuguese had no choice but to warn Serena for the third time. And to award the eighth game of the second set to Naomi Osaka.

This rule is known to Serena, she’s been around long enough. One more miss and Williams would have flown off the field. But Osaka suffered the most. She couldn’t look forward to the greatest success of her career, even though Serena hugged her after the match point.

That’s the other side of the 36-year-old American. When she’s with her, Serena Williams knows how to acknowledge when an opponent like Osaka in New York was better than her. Angelique Kerber experienced this twice, in Australia in 2016 and a few weeks ago in Wimbledon.

She had been emotionally extremely moved these days, Williams had already said before the final. That she was the one who brought the audience back on track at the award ceremony speaks for Serena. And against Katrina Adams, the president of the US tennis federation, who let this opportunity pass.

At least Naomi Osaka found her humour again after a few minutes that seemed to be extremely unpleasant for the Japanese. And then could still bring a winner’s smile.

Carlos Ramos had already left Arthur Ashe Stadium then. And renounced the usual tribute after a Grand Slam final. Like Serena for the polite handshake after the match.