That's my girl: Naomi Osaka is embraced by her mother, Tamaki (AFP Photo/kena betancur) New York (AFP) - Naomi Osaka starred on the court and in the media conference room after winning the US Open on Saturday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Serena Williams in the final. Here AFP Sport looks at six of her best quotes from her post-match news conference: "I always thought I should put like a GoPro on him during my matches." -- On her father Leonard's habit of not watching his daughter play, opting instead to take a stroll around the grounds. "I chose him to work with because he twisted his ankle within the first five minutes of practice. I was like, Yup, this guy right here, he's going to be great." -- On working with coach Sascha Bajin "I don't know what happened on the court. So for me, I'm always going to remember the Serena that I love. It doesn't change anything for me. She was really nice to me, like, at the net and on the podium. I don't really see what would change." -- On her affection for Serena Williams despite the American's meltdown "Everyone who was born in Osaka, their last name is Osaka. "Is that true?" "No." -- On sharing her surname with the Japanese city of her birth "When I was growing up, I did a whole report on her in third grade. I coloured it and everything. I said, I want to be like her. It's maybe in like a folder at home or something. I'm not sure." -- On her affection for the American at an early age "Sleep! I'm not really a social person like that. Maybe I'll play video games." -- On plans to celebrate on Saturday night<doc-sep>SERENA Williams has lashed out on the court and claimed sexism in tennis in sensational scenes at the US Open this morning. Naomi Osaka sensationally upset Serena Williams a second time in an explosive US Open final which saw the six-time Flushing Meadows champ break down in tears on the court and in a press conference afterwards. Related: World reacts to Serena’s US Open mess The dramatic turn of events saw the grand slam queen blow up at chair umpire Carlos Ramos in a rant halting the match for several minutes. In a press conference after the explosive game, Williams said she was “here fighting for women’s rights and women’s equality” and labelled Ramos’ decision “a sexist remark”. Everyone should listen to this from Serena Williams. pic.twitter.com/TF03dhpq2P — Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) September 8, 2018 During the match, Williams was pulled up by Ramos after seemingly receiving coaching advice from the front row. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, gestured to her after she won the first game of the second set. It appeared to be a suggestion for Williams to move closer to the net, a tactic which served her well in the semi-final against Anastasija Sevastova. “I don’t cheat to win, I’d rather lose. I’m just letting you know,” a fired-up Williams told the umpire. “I can understand how you made that thought, but I don’t cheat.” Incredibly, Mouratoglou admitted to sideline coaching in an interview with ESPN but wasn’t short of accusations himself. Serena's coach admits to coaching. (And yet this mess all started because Serena was insulted by the insinuation that she and her coach were committing a violation.) — Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) September 8, 2018 “(Osaka’s coach) was coaching every point too, so I don’t get it,” he fired off after the match. “I don’t get it. It’s not a big deal breaking a racket.” Mouratoglou said he’d never been brought up for coaching mid-match and thought the upset wouldn’t hurt Serena’s charge towards a 24th grand slam title. “All coaches are coaching throughout the match. But check the record. I’ve never been called for a coaching violation in my career.” From boos to cheers. An emotional and powerful moment for Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams at the US Open podium. (🔊⬆️) pic.twitter.com/oTg6SORjXe — ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2018 Speaking after the match, Williams said she “can’t go back in time” and that she thought Ramos “was a thief. I thought he took the game away from me”. “I’ve seen other men call umpires several other things...for me to say thief and for him to take a game, it made me feel that like was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said thief. For me, it blows my mind. But I’m going to continue to fight for women. “I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is an example for the next person that has emotions that wants to express themselves, that wants to be a strong woman and they’re going to be allowed to do that because of today. “Maybe it didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.” "I don't cheat to win. I'd rather lose." — Serena Williams just now to the chair umpire #USOpen18 pic.twitter.com/TCbGcpVmeq — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 8, 2018 Aussie journalists Peter Lalor and Caroline Wilson went for the juglar on Sunday morning’s ABC Offsiders. “It was her McEnroe moment, it was hard to watch,” Lalor said. “Nobody owes you an apology, you owe a lot of people an apology and when you calm down, I hope you realise that.” Wilson said it was time the tennis world stood up to Williams. “The comment about having a daughter, women around the world would have cringed at that,” she said. “This is a woman who threatened to shove a ball down an umpire’s throat was only fined $10,000. This is a woman who, again, verbally threatened a linesman in 2014. People have not stood up to Serena Williams.” There were fiery scenes at the #USOpen today, as @serenawilliams defended herself against cheating and sexism. Do you think her outburst was warranted? https://t.co/I8fOwvDT97 — news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) September 9, 2018 During the game, Willams had sent the crowd bananas as she snagged her first break of the match via an overhit backhand return from the youngster went long. But the fireworks weren’t over yet. Serena was brought up again shortly after by the umpire docking her a point for breaking her racket, sparking a heated outburst from the 36-year-old. “I don’t cheat and I never have in my life! I didn’t get coaching, how can you say that. You owe me an apology. I have a daughter and I set what’s right for her ... This is unbelievable!” Williams then called umpire Ramos a “thief” as she went down 5-4 with Osaka serving for the match. . @serenawilliams instructs crowd to stop booing and celebrate @Naomi_Osaka_'s moment of winning her first grand slam. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/LOAyB42OmQ — Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 8, 2018 She was hit with a verbal abuse game penalty for her outburst and did not shake Ramos’ hand after the match. “I’m just trying to process everything and focus on the bright things, the good things,” she said in the post match press conference. “I felt bad, I was crying, she was crying. This wasn’t how I felt when I won my first grand slam. Maybe it was the mum in me when I said, ‘c’mon, let’s pull ourselves together here’. “(But) I wasn’t being coached. It may have looked like I was but I wasn’t. I don’t need to cheat to win. “I feel like (Osaka) was playing really well but it’s hard to say (if the umpire influenced the match).” The US Open released a statement explaining the circus shortly after Osaka lifted the chalice. The #USOPEN breaks it down. You can argue the first code violation was harsh on Serena, but the other two are pretty damn clear pic.twitter.com/vKRtvyLq8n — Sam Clench (@SamClench) September 9, 2018 “I don’t want to be rude, I don’t want to do questions. I just want to say (Osaka) played well and this is her first grand slam,” Williams continued. “Congratulations Naomi.” Osaka said she was “sorry it had to end like this”. “I just wanted to say thank you for watching the match,” the teary champ said. “I didn’t know what was going on, I was just trying to focus. Since it was my first Grand Slam final, I did not want to get overwhelmed,” said 20-year-old Osaka after her 6-2, 6-4 win. I was rooting for #Serena. Always will. #Osaka played well and it’s unfortunate her first grand slam win will be overshadowed by this unusual decision by the ump. Serena comforts Osaka as crowd boos ump’s contentious decision to dock Serena a game and a point. #USOpen @wjz pic.twitter.com/bsNkdd3tk4 — Avajoye Burnett (@AvajoyeWJZ) September 8, 2018 After the match, Williams referred to a code violation handed down to Alizé Cornet, who was pulled up earlier in the tournament for changing her backwards shirt on-court. “Cornet should be able to take her shirt off without getting a fine, like this is outrageous.”<doc-sep>
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams on Saturday, 6–2, 6–4, to win the U.S. Open women’s singles final. It was the first Grand Slam win for the 20-year-old Osaka, who was born in Japan and represents the nation on the court. She was facing her idol in Williams, but the match went off the rails before it could be declared a coronation for Osaka. In the end, both players ended up in tears. Early in the second set, chair umpire Carlos Ramos issued Williams a warning for what he judged to be illegal coaching from the stands by her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Williams vehemently denied the charge and pleaded with Ramos, saying, “I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.” "I don't cheat to win. I'd rather lose." —Serena to the chair umpire after receiving a coaching violation pic.twitter.com/v6Q2GWYYOn — espnW (@espnW) September 8, 2018 The moment seemed to ignite Williams, who went on to take a 3–1 advantage in the second set. Back-to-back double faults in the fifth game killed her momentum, however, and Williams smashed her racket in frustration after losing the game. Ramos issued a code violation and point penalty against Williams, and boos filled Arthur Ashe Stadium. Later in the set, during a changeover, Williams vented once again at Ramos. "You owe me an apology!" Serena was fired up with the official in the final set of the US Open final. pic.twitter.com/r6RSbrirnV — ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2018 “You owe me an apology,” she said, standing before the chair. “I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right for her. I’ve never cheated, and you owe me an apology … 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!” Ramos responded by issuing yet another code violation, her third, which resulted in a game penalty, putting Osaka up 5–3 in the final set and within one game of winning the match. Williams then demanded to see tournament referee Brian Earley on the court. When he arrived, she pleaded her case to no avail. Despite the immense emotion, Williams managed to serve out and win that game. There would be no incredible comeback, however, and Osaka managed to hold her serve and win the title. The astonishing scenes during the second set really shouldn’t overshadow Osaka’s play. Before tensions boiled over, she and Williams had engaged in thrilling rallies. The match promised to be tennis’ best-ever vs. its future and, at times, it delivered. Saving a break point in STYLE! @Naomi_Osaka_ fires a forehand winner after a 19 shot rally against Serena in the 2nd set...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/5pnYV2L6qJ — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2018 Osaka deserved to win her first Grand Slam under better circumstances. Instead, she looked stricken during the trophy ceremony as her opponent asked the crowd not to boo. Serena comforted an emotional Naomi Osaka after losing in the US Open 😥 pic.twitter.com/oCLTRn66cW — espnW (@espnW) September 8, 2018 For what it’s worth, Mouratoglou admitted after match that he was giving Williams signals from the stands, although she claimed in her post-match press conference that she never saw them and had done nothing wrong. Serena's coach says that a penalty for coaching during play is hypocritical because every coach does it. pic.twitter.com/AvU3TnKUIH — ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2018 The extent to which Ramos or Williams were at fault will be dissected for months (though, probably years), but nothing either party did would have likely affected the end result. “I know that everybody was cheering for her,” Osaka said at the trophy ceremony. “I’m sorry it had to end like this. I just want to say thank you for watching the match.”