Naomi Osaka, on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open, was preparing for her first Grand Slam tournament final, and against her idol, the supreme Serena Williams.
Osaka’s premier mandatory Indian Wells title win, in February this year, was her first on the WTA Tour, and she followed up the next week by defeating Serena in Miami.
Since then it had been a fairly lean season for Naomi, 12-10 win/loss after Miami, including two first round losses leading into Flushing Meadows.
Her previous best effort at a major was a round of sixteen at the 2018 Australian Open.
However, Naomi has been a standout performer at the US Open over the past fortnight, crushing most opponents, and out performing big hitters Sabalenka and Keys with her uncompromising power game, employed with impressive control.
Serena had provided evidence of her preeminence in the game, and began as deserved favourite.
A shaky start, though, losing the first two points on serve, before settling in with a service hold.
Osaka also held from an awkward 0-30 position. The first break occurred in game three, Serena double faulting on the final point.
Naomi produced a range of shots from both sides, pushing Serena wide, and led 3-1, sealing the consolidating game with an ace.
A forehand winner took Serena to 30-0, but then errors and a double fault cost her another drop of serve, and she trailed 1-4. Naomi was forcing her more experienced opponent to go for more on her shots, because of the ability to consistently retrieve and often punish the best Williams could offer.
A severe test for Osaka came in the sixth game, but she passed, and once Serena had held serve, it was time for the 20 year old to serve for a set lead.
The delivery from the line was powerful but measured, and the set was Osaka’s with a minimum of fuss 6-2.
A Williams comeback was expected, but it needed to be quick, considering how well Osaka was playing.
Serving first, Williams was leading 1-0 and Osaka had 40-15, when chair umpire Carlos Ramos informed Serena that she had been given a warning. Under the code of conduct, a player can receive a warning if their coach is cited for visibly coaching from the crowd.
Once Williams was informed, she took it as a personal affront, accusing Ramos of painting her as a cheat, when in fact he had not involved her in this at all. Her beef should have always been with her coach for placing his player at risk of receiving the warning.
To be honest, the coaching was only one of multiple instances from all coaches, and to single out this one instance was rather foolish, when the practice has been let go so blatantly overall.
Still, it began a feud between Serena and Carlos which festered for the remainder of the match, and unfortunately marred the main event - a tennis match.
Back to the tennis, and Serena saved a break point in the third game, before a lengthy fourth where Naomi was asked on several occasions to do likewise. Over a number of matches, Naomi had seen off 18 successive break points, with either smart shot making or excellent serving. Number 19 saved with a down the line winner. Number 20 saved with an ace. Number 21 saved after a Williams error.
Finally, the break arrived, and Serena was back in the match leading 3-1.
An ace for 30-15, but a fifth double fault and 30-30. Another double fault and break back point. Netted backhand and serve broken, along with a racquet. The latter earned a second code of conduct violation - this one more serious - a point loss.
The argument with the umpire intensified - back to what she thought was a cheating accusation.
Meanwhile in the tennis match, Osaka showed a sense of calm and contributed a love game to level at 3-3.
A Serena ace for 30-15, and a whipped up crowd behind her. However, an American error, plus two brilliant Japanese winners, scored a second straight break for Naomi, who now was ahead a set and a break.
Serena now lost her cool completely, incessantly demanding an apology from Ramos, calling him a liar, a thief for stealing a point from her, and other things, which eventually led him to call a third code violation, for abuse, and this one carried a game penalty.
Fortunately, it was on Naomi’s serve, otherwise the damage would have been multiplied, but still the pressure of having to hold serve was now eliminated.
The distraction for Osaka was not of her doing, yet she had to suffer through it, and it was extended when Serena asked that the tournament referee be brought to the court. This gave Serena another chance to vent her anger as the “victim”, but she freely agreed with the referee that the decision couldn’t be reversed, so why demand his presence ?
An ego driven waste of time which I believe was missed in the whole dramatic episode.
What Williams did do well when play restarted was to focus on the matter at hand, and hold serve at 3-5 to stay alive in the contest.
This then gave Naomi Osaka the responsibility of serving for the championship.
A down the line winner and two big serves, one an ace, presented Osaka with two match points. Williams saved one with a winning backhand, but an ace did the trick on the second, and against most predictions, Naomi Osaka won the final major of 2018, defeating the Flushing Meadows Queen 6-2 6-4. Forget the sideshow - Naomi outclassed her idol on one of the biggest stages.
Sadly for Naomi the trophy presentation ceremony was a farce, with the chair umpire excluded - a reprehensible decision - made for fear that he may be heckled by the partisan crowd.
The crowd was booing anyway, spoiling what should have been the unqualified joy of a moment Naomi will never experience again - her first Grand Slam tournament title.
Thankfully we did end with her smile and her holding the trophy aloft.
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