‘It would’ve been different’ – Naomi Osaka on double standards for her and Serena Williams

Naomi Osaka has spoken in reference to her 2018 US Open final against Serena Williams and the aftermath she and the American faced.

The two women played out a now infamous match as controversy surrounded the entire encounter which eventually saw Osaka win 6-2, 6-4 to clinch her first Major title.

News about the final was dominated by altercations between Serena and chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

Some accused Serena of being too aggressive in her interactions with Ramos, while others suggested Ramos mishandled the warnings he gave Serena, and much else in between.

“Definitely if a male player did that it wouldn’t have been so [widely] broadcasted,” Osaka said on the VS Voices podcast about what happened that day.

“There’s actually been male players that have done far worse, like literally last year and this year, and they don’t get news reports at all.

“So, I’m not sure if it’s because Serena is Serena, or if people just wanted to write negative things.”

Serena was pushing for a 24th Slam title that day, the second time she was making the attempt in a Major final that year.

Just months earlier she lost in the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber.

Osaka has since claimed three more Slam crowns, at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021 and the US Open in 2020.

“I can’t say that if we were both male players the outcome would have been the same way,” Osaka continued.

“But I can say that people are very interested in Serena and whatever she does is going to get attention.

“And it was just unfortunate that it had to be that moment that caught a lot of people’s interest.”

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