Success and failure are part of life. However, how one deals with the failures separates them from the rest of the pack. Is there a better example in this regard than Serena Williams? The American legend has overcome all odds to become one of the greatest athletes in the sporting world. Despite the enormous success, failures too were a part of her career.

One such moment occurred during the US Open final in 2018. Serena had made it to the summit clash and was due to face Naomi Osaka. However, during the match, she was involved in several heated arguments with the chair umpire. She once talked about the unfair treatment that she received in that match.

Serena Williams talks about her 2018 US Open finals controversy

During an interview, the 23-time Grand Slam champion talked about how she was treated more harshly than her male counterparts. She said, “I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things.”

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Talking about the penalty that she received, Serena said, “I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief’, and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.”

Further, she went on to add, “He’s never taken a game from a man because they said ‘thief’. For me, it blows my mind. But I’m going to continue to fight for women.”

Naomi Osaka won her maiden Grand Slam title that year

In one of the biggest matches of her career, Osaka went on to defeat Serena to clinch her first Grand Slam title. It was a high-voltage match, with the Japanese star prevailing in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

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Subsequently, Osaka has added another three more Grand Slam titles to take her major tally to four titles. She has gone on to become one of the most influential figures in women’s tennis over the past few years. Additionally, she has left Serena behind in the list of highest-earning tennis players in the women’s circuit.