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Serena Williams on US Open Final 2018: apologized to Naomi Osaka
Tennis star Serena Williams says she has apologized to Naomi Osaka for her behavior in the final of the US Open last year. Osaka, then 20 years old, won her first Grand Slam title against Williams, but the triumph was overshadowed by a dispute between US and referee Carlos Ramos of Portugal.
Williams, who entered the Wimbledon semi-final on Tuesday, wrote in an essay for "Harper's Bazaar" that she could not "find peace" in the days after the lost final. The only way to break the defeat was to apologize to Osaka. "I'm so proud of you and I'm really sorry I thought I was doing the right thing to stand up for myself [...] I wish there was a chance to relive that moment" Williams wrote to the now 21-year-old in a message.
AFP
Williams congratulated Osaka on her triumph
The 37-year-old Williams can currently be seen on the cover of the August issue of "Harper's Bazaar," which included the essay by Williams. In the US fashion magazine wrote the former world number one, she had gone after the US Open final in therapeutic treatment.
"I was looking for answers, and even though I felt I was making progress, I was still not ready to pick up a bat and finally realized that there was only one way for me to move forward It was time for me to apologize to the person who deserves the most. " This refers to Osaka.
Williams wrote that Osaka had responded to her apology: "When Naomi's answer came, tears rolled down my face." According to Williams, Osaka said that "people misunderstand strength as anger because they can not distinguish between the two, no one is as self-professed as you did, and you have to continue like that."
AFP
Serena Williams and referee Carlos Ramos
In the lost final against Osaka the 23-time Grand Slam champion had conceded three penalties for forbidden signs of their coach and fierce referee criticism, including a loss of play. She then told the referee that he would treat men differently in this situation. She did not deviate from that yet: "Why are women branded as 'emotional, crazy and irrational' when they become passionate?" She asked. "But if men do that, are they considered passionate and strong?"
A triumph at Lawn Classic in London would be the 24th Grand Slam title for the American. She would have set the record for the Australian Margaret Court. This was denied her at the US Open by the final defeat in New York.