<p class="title">Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title on Saturday as her idol Serena Williams angrily imploded, calling the chair umpire in the US Open final "a thief".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka, 20, triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in the match marred by Williams's second set outburst, the American enraged by umpire Carlos Ramos's warning for receiving coaching from her box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When a second code violation for racquet abuse was handed out to her -- along with a point penalty -- Williams exploded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She tearfully accused him of being a "thief" and angrily demanded an apology from the official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You're attacking my character," she said. "You will never, ever be on another court of mine. You are the liar," she fumed and Ramos handed her a game penalty for a third violation -- verbal abuse -- that put Osaka one game from victory at 5-3 in the second set.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams won the next game, and continued her tearful remonstrations with a supervisor on the changeover.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Osaka -- who displayed not only a stellar game but remarkable poise throughout -- held serve to seal a historic win for her country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It doesn't really feel that real right now. Maybe in a few days I'll realize what I've done," said Osaka, adding that the noise was so great in Arthur Ashe Stadium and her focus so single-minded that she wasn't fully aware of the escalating controversy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When I turned around it was 5-3 so I was a little bit confused then," she said of the game suddenly awarded to her.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I felt like I had to focus. She's such a great champion so I know she can come back from any point."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, seeking a first Grand Slam title since the birth of her daughter Olympia on September 1 2017, was denied a 24th Grand Slam title that would have matched Margaret Court's all-time record.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the pro-Williams crowed booed the trophy ceremony announcer, Osaka was tearing up herself, but Williams urged the spectators to show the young champion respect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"She played well," Williams said, pausing to compose herself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is her first Grand Slam. Let's make this the best moment we can."</p>.<p class="bodytext">When it was Osaka's turn she seemed at a loss, apologizing to the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was always my dream to play Serena in the US Open finals," she added, turning to Williams herself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm really grateful I was able to play with you, thank you."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams's outburst overshadowed an outstanding performance from Osaka, who made her second career title a Grand Slam after winning her first at Indian Wells in March.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A match with history at stake for both players got off to a tense start and it was Williams who blinked first, double-faulting on break point to give Osaka a 2-1 lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a confident hold punctuated by a 106 mph ace Osaka broke again to lead 4-1, silencing the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They came to life again as Williams gained her first break chance, which Osaka saved with a 117 mph service winner. Williams squandered one more chance before Osaka sealed the hold with another big serve.<br /><br />It was in the second game of the second set that Williams was warned for receiving coaching, a charge she vigorously denied.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't cheat to win," she said. "I'd rather lose."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Patrick Mouratoglou admitted in an interview with ESPN that he was trying to advise her with a hand gesture, although Williams was apparently oblivious.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The star of the show has been once again the chair umpire," he tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Should they be allowed have an influence on the result of a match? When do we decide that this should never happen again?"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams was up 2-1 on the changeover when she spoke again with Ramos appearing to smooth things over, and she finally found a way to break Osaka for a 3-1 lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tranquillity didn't last long. When Osaka broke back with the aid of two double faults and a backhand into the net from Williams, the American smashed her racquet to the court. A second code violation came with a point penalty to start the next game that sent her into orbit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I didn't get coaching. I haven't cheated in my life. I stand for what's right," insisted Williams as they headed into the sixth game -- in which Osaka held at love.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After Osaka broke for a 4-3 lead Williams continued her verbal assault on Ramos, who docked her a game for a third violation that put Osaka up 5-3.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scene recalled Williams's ugly rant at a line judge in her US Open semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters in 2009 and her verbal attack on chair umpire Eva Asderaki in her 2011 final loss to Samantha Stosur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams said she didn't know if she would have managed to turn things around if the dispute with Ramos had not occurred.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's hard to say because I always fight till the end and I always try to come back, no matter what."</p>
<p class="title">Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title on Saturday as her idol Serena Williams angrily imploded, calling the chair umpire in the US Open final "a thief".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka, 20, triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in the match marred by Williams's second set outburst, the American enraged by umpire Carlos Ramos's warning for receiving coaching from her box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When a second code violation for racquet abuse was handed out to her -- along with a point penalty -- Williams exploded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She tearfully accused him of being a "thief" and angrily demanded an apology from the official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You're attacking my character," she said. "You will never, ever be on another court of mine. You are the liar," she fumed and Ramos handed her a game penalty for a third violation -- verbal abuse -- that put Osaka one game from victory at 5-3 in the second set.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams won the next game, and continued her tearful remonstrations with a supervisor on the changeover.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Osaka -- who displayed not only a stellar game but remarkable poise throughout -- held serve to seal a historic win for her country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It doesn't really feel that real right now. Maybe in a few days I'll realize what I've done," said Osaka, adding that the noise was so great in Arthur Ashe Stadium and her focus so single-minded that she wasn't fully aware of the escalating controversy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When I turned around it was 5-3 so I was a little bit confused then," she said of the game suddenly awarded to her.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I felt like I had to focus. She's such a great champion so I know she can come back from any point."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, seeking a first Grand Slam title since the birth of her daughter Olympia on September 1 2017, was denied a 24th Grand Slam title that would have matched Margaret Court's all-time record.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the pro-Williams crowed booed the trophy ceremony announcer, Osaka was tearing up herself, but Williams urged the spectators to show the young champion respect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"She played well," Williams said, pausing to compose herself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is her first Grand Slam. Let's make this the best moment we can."</p>.<p class="bodytext">When it was Osaka's turn she seemed at a loss, apologizing to the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was always my dream to play Serena in the US Open finals," she added, turning to Williams herself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm really grateful I was able to play with you, thank you."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams's outburst overshadowed an outstanding performance from Osaka, who made her second career title a Grand Slam after winning her first at Indian Wells in March.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A match with history at stake for both players got off to a tense start and it was Williams who blinked first, double-faulting on break point to give Osaka a 2-1 lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a confident hold punctuated by a 106 mph ace Osaka broke again to lead 4-1, silencing the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They came to life again as Williams gained her first break chance, which Osaka saved with a 117 mph service winner. Williams squandered one more chance before Osaka sealed the hold with another big serve.<br /><br />It was in the second game of the second set that Williams was warned for receiving coaching, a charge she vigorously denied.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't cheat to win," she said. "I'd rather lose."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Patrick Mouratoglou admitted in an interview with ESPN that he was trying to advise her with a hand gesture, although Williams was apparently oblivious.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The star of the show has been once again the chair umpire," he tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Should they be allowed have an influence on the result of a match? When do we decide that this should never happen again?"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams was up 2-1 on the changeover when she spoke again with Ramos appearing to smooth things over, and she finally found a way to break Osaka for a 3-1 lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tranquillity didn't last long. When Osaka broke back with the aid of two double faults and a backhand into the net from Williams, the American smashed her racquet to the court. A second code violation came with a point penalty to start the next game that sent her into orbit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I didn't get coaching. I haven't cheated in my life. I stand for what's right," insisted Williams as they headed into the sixth game -- in which Osaka held at love.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After Osaka broke for a 4-3 lead Williams continued her verbal assault on Ramos, who docked her a game for a third violation that put Osaka up 5-3.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scene recalled Williams's ugly rant at a line judge in her US Open semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters in 2009 and her verbal attack on chair umpire Eva Asderaki in her 2011 final loss to Samantha Stosur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams said she didn't know if she would have managed to turn things around if the dispute with Ramos had not occurred.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's hard to say because I always fight till the end and I always try to come back, no matter what."</p>