2018 US Open – Women's singles final
The 2018 US Open Women's Singles final was the championship tennis match of the Women's Singles tournament at the 2018 US Open. It was contested between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, seeded 17th and 20th respectively. Osaka defeated Williams in straight sets, 6–2, 6–4, in one hour and 19 minutes.
| Naomi Osaka vs. Serena Williams | ||||||||||
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| Date | September 8, 2018 | |||||||||
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| Tournament | US Open | |||||||||
| Location | New York City | |||||||||
| Chair umpire | Carlos Ramos | |||||||||
| Duration | 1 hour 19 minutes | |||||||||
| World rankings | Naomi Osaka: 19 Serena Williams: 26 | |||||||||
| Previous head-to-head results | ||||||||||
| Osaka 1–0 S. Williams | ||||||||||
The match was historically significant for both players. It was Williams' first US Open after a 12-month hiatus to give birth to her first child in September 2017, and second attempt since her pregnancy (after that year's Wimbledon) to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. Osaka was the first Japanese player to contest a Grand Slam women's singles final, and was attempting to become the first Japanese player, male or female, to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The match generated significant controversy due to a series of altercations between Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos during the second set. Williams' on-court behavior and Ramos' disciplinary actions, and Williams' responses, particularly her invocation of perceived sexism during her arguments with Ramos and officials, and following the match, polarized the tennis community and media worldwide. The International Tennis Federation issued a statement supporting Carlos Ramos' umpiring during the match, stating that his "decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules and were re-affirmed by the US Open’s decision to fine Serena Williams for the three offences".