Her look is utterly unique. She could care less and she's about to kick your inferior tennis efforts off the court. And then she speaks. The sweetest, most gracious, articulation set to a perfectly pitched A minor. Naomi Osaka, Japan's native gal, America's Open Champion. Relentless and motivated purely. Fearless and situationally elevated. Tireless and constantly offensive. Excellent first serve. Her victory over Serena in the finals was established within the lines of Arthur Ashe court. Clearly, the cause was Osaka's beat down, the effect was the aftermath. An aftermath that included her apologizing to the crowd for defeating the greatest athlete to walk the earth. Square and fair. Twice as many aces. 1 double fault to 6 for Serena, and so very Vantaggio with 4 break points won, how Champions slam the door. Serena won 1.
Of course, Osaka's emotional control was superior. Until the podium, when she couldn't contain it any longer. When the tennis playing was over. When Serena's maternal instincts took over from the microphone and proper order returned to the ceremony. Earlier, during the match, Serena needed an emotional rescue. A knight in shining armour. Ironically, the first slip started with her coach, paid to help her. As he coached from the stands, which is not allowed and was witnessed by the umpire. Video don't lie, Venus saw it too. Serena defended herself, claiming the coaching the umpire saw was not received by her. She didn't see it. Does coaching need to be received to be called coaching? A question for the next USTA board meeting. Maybe squeeze in a discussion between fee hikes and the subjective ratings calibration workshop. Either way, the coach caused the first infraction, which didn't cost Serena a point, but left her emotionally vulnerable.
Feeling disrespected is always challenging to overcome, but to a losing champion who destests losing, it becomes magnified. Demanded apologies seem pointless and irrational, anyway. Then the destroyed racquet soon after. From experience, it is a rush of pure anger, uncontrollable and instinctive. It is always self disgust. It is completely irrational. And it is against the rules. And 2 infractions costs a point. Then, still feeling like an apology from the umpire was needed, Serena spent an entire changeover arguing. Eventually, another infraction for verbal abuse resulted in the loss of a game. Osaka could've cared less. She was cruising to victory regardless, despite, and for sure. Serena got beat, got offended, got angry, and got the runner up trophy. In that order. She temporarily lost her cool. But only temporarily.
**these are the observations of a male.