Serena Williams has spoken with the media for the first time since her controversial US Open final loss to Naomi Osaka, denying that her coach gave her on-court assistance during the match – an infringement for which she was penalised, and which served as turning point in the second set.
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Speaking to The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson, Williams disputed the claim from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou that he “made a motion” at the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
“He said he made a motion,” she said.
“I don’t understand what he was talking about. We’ve never had signals.”
Later in the match, Williams labelled umpire Carlos Ramos a “thief” for penalising her over a smashed racquet. That remark itself resulted in an entire game being awarded to Osaka.
When questioned over her remark, and subsequent comments that a male tennis player would not have been penalised to the same extent for the same outbursts, Williams said “I just don’t understand… if you’re a female you should be able to do even half of what a guy can do.”
Williams’ treatment on the court and the subsequent debate surrounding her response has sparked a broader discussion of the double standards faced by women more broadly, and even spurred that flagrantly racist cartoon.
The full interview will be aired on The Project this Sunday night.
