I really respect Serena Williams as a tennis player. She's won 23 Grand Slams as a singles player which truly speaks to not only her athleticism but her skill in the sport. However, I do have a problem with her behavior in the 2018 US Open Final, as it was not only disrespectful of the officials and sport but robbed Naomi Osaka of the chance to celebrate her first Grand Slam at only 20 years old.
Naomi's first Grand Slam should have been the happiest moment of her life; it's the moment she finally graduates from just another tennis player to a name in the record books. It's also the moment that many players are finally taken seriously by commentators and those within the tennis world. It's not a moment that a player should spend crying and apologizing.
While I believe that Serena did spark an incredibly important conversation, she could have done so in a significantly more respectful and constructive way. The manner in which she spoke in her post-match press conference about sexism is a prime example of this and how her words have a vast amount of power even off the court.
While I feel that sexism is a major issue within tennis and should be brought up, I felt in this particular case that Serena used it as an excuse for her disrespectful behavior and frustration at her declining performance within the match.
The crowd should not have booed at Naomi Osaka's victory. Not only were they booing a 20-year-old woman who had done nothing more than play her hardest and fight to get to where she was, but they were booing their countrywoman.
While Naomi Osaka represents Japan, she is just as much an American as Serena Williams. She was born in Japan yet has lived most of her life in the United States and holds dual citizenship. Her choice to represent Japan was due to the fact that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) was unwilling to support her while Japan was. She's a role model to all young girls that were told: "you're not good enough". She shows them that if you put in the effort and dedication things have a way of working out in your favor.
Naomi Osaka deserves better as so all women in tennis.
