That unforgettable evening in 2018 when Serena Williams lost the U.S. Open to Naomi Osaka marked a historic moment in tennis history. It felt like a symbolic “passing of the torch” between the two players. For those who may not recall the details, let’s revisit that event.
Serena Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players in history, wasn’t ready to lose, and what likely stung the most was the response from fans, many of whom openly rooted against her. During the match, she faced unexpected jeers from the crowd. Following the game, Serena took a break, welcomed a baby, and has since returned to the tennis court.
On August 6, Naomi Osaka reflected on the aftermath of that moment during an appearance on the Tennis Insider Club podcast. She described it as a deeply challenging experience, particularly because of the intense backlash from fans. She recounted the pain of reading social media reactions, which led to hours of tears. On the podcast, she shared, “I went on social media… I was just reading a lot of people saying that I didn’t deserve to win after I won my first US Open. Oh God, I remember I started crying a lot. I still think about it a lot.”
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