2021 Tennis

[Buzzo]

Yeah, umpire played it by the letter of the law.

She was getting coached, she did break a racquet, and she did abuse umpire.

It was all because Osaka was absolutely destroying her.

Poor form. Bad loser.

[Zapater]

Yeah, umpire played it by the letter of the law.

She was getting coached, she did break a racquet, and she did abuse umpire.

It was all because Osaka was absolutely destroying her.

Poor form. Bad loser.

Not even the reason she lost.

On top of it, I see that people are already making this a gender inequality case about females being targeted. Absolute madness.

[Buzzo]

She’s in press conference now.

Her coach has literally been on TV and admitted to it, as Serena has been denying it saying she doesn’t know what he is on about. She clearly responded to it - the message was obvious to stop letting Osaka push her back.

Could be interesting when Serena and her coach meet up

[Red_Polo]

Absolutely destroyed Osaka's moment. Williams tried to claw it back at the trophy presentation when she finally realised she wasn't the only person that mattered. Too late. Biggest moment of Osaka's career and she's in tears with loads of booing. Terrible.

[RichC]

Third time she’s done this now Clijsters, Stour and now Osaka. Terrible loser. The shame is she was outplayed regardless of the meltdown and the umpire doing his job. Osaka was brilliant and fully deserved winner

She got warned for coaching - admitted by coach, point deducted for second warning for smashing a racquet and then for her tirade at the umpire has a game deducted after calling him a thief and he’ll never share her court again. Seems an obvious case of sexual discrimination against Williams who’s clearly done nothing unsporting or untoward in all of this

[Buzzo]

I’m definitely uncomfortable with Williams throwing in an accusation of sexism.

Though she does have some valid points. I’ve never seen anyone be docked a game before, and that is with seeing some pretty serious wigouts. She did come across as overly emotional, but would a man who may come across as more aggressive have been treated in the same way?

She did refer to the umpire as a liar and a thief, which is personal and perhaps crossed the line. The thing that Serena chooses to ignore is that she is also using the weight of her reputation as a weapon against the umpire. He definitely seemed to be left with little choice.

However, Ultimately she has no one to blame but herself, and she needs to respect the fact that there are two people on court - but in respect of the game and Williams opponent perhaps the umpire could have given her a final warning before docking her the game. This would probably have allowed Osaka to enjoy her moment and for the combination of Serena and the umpire to not ruin the final.

[RichC]

Thing is she was giving a warning for the coaching then a further warning for the racquet break, following the rules that was the next step, do you really believe another warning would have diffused the situation ? She was miles out of control already and let’s be honest we’ve seen this from her before.

Her press conference she seemed to blindly ignore what she’d done and focuses on it being down to sexism and she’s fighting for the rights of other females. She was basically totally in the wrong and trying to deflect her behaviour by using the sexism card takes away from the actual issue imo.

[Buzzo]

Yeah, I ultimately agree with that.

I think though, if the umpire had managed to try and defuse the situation - not that’s his job - by giving her an audible final warning then he may have rescued the end of the match.

Saying that. As you say she was out of control and she only just recovered it on the podium.

Seeing someone who has just won their first slam, against her idol and become the first slam winner of either sex for her nation in tears before receiving her trophy was pretty shocking. She could barely raise a smile as she was getting her photo taken with it.

It was surreal.

[labourRed]

Definite shame for Osaka but I'm less critical of Williams than some on here. To give a game away in a final is unheard of.

As for the first warning, that's the harshest one for me. If they are to insist on a no coaching rule then penalise the coach by sending him to the stands. The final violation was over the top and not consistent with other games either IMO.

[Chris]

That was pretty funny, she really is an absolute brat when she's losing.

Ramos didn't really do anything wrong and he's always been a fussy ****er with male or female, white or black. Don't remember him giving any game penalties before but then I don't remember anyone calling him a "liar", a "thief" or saying they'd make sure he'd never officiate one of their games again so...!

[Kenneth]

"I have a daughter" was the best bit.

[Zapater]

"I have a daughter" was the best bit.

No parent in the history of mankind has ever cheated.

Between using this as fuel for a feminist drive and others using it as an excuse for the reason she lost makes me lose even more faith in humanity.

[Red_Polo]

It's a reasonable question as to whether men get the same letter of the law punishment. I don't know the answer. I do know it doesn't excuse her behaviour and the way it shafted Osaka.

[Buzzo]

"I have a daughter" was the best bit.

New parents are a ****ing nightmare

[Buzzo]

In other news, Jamie Murray secured his sixth doubles Slam yesterday