Investigative reporter Don Van Natta, Jr. connects the dots on nine months of reporting to examine the saga of Serena Williams’ intense clash with chair umpire Carlos Ramos during her loss to Naomi Osaka in the 2018 US Open women’s final.
Seeking her record-tying 24th Grand Slam victory, Williams was assessed code violations that resulted first in a warning, followed by a point penalty and then the loss of a game after a heated argument capped by Williams calling Ramos ‘a thief’.
With boos raining down, play was delayed before Osaka finished off Williams 6-2, 6-4 for her first Grand Slam title. The highly emotional awards ceremony afterward was marred by boos.