Black Tennis Pros

Serena Williams during 2018 U.S. Open in disagreement with Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos after being accused of cheating.

(Associated Press) Almost a full 12 months later, with first-round play beginning Monday at Flushing Meadows, the ramifications of that 1-hour, 19-minute contest still reverberate, including this: Ramos will not officiate matches involving Serena Williams or her older sister, Venus, according to the Associated Press.

“We’ve decided that there are over 900 other matches and Carlos, for 2019, will not be in the chair for a Williams sisters match,” U.S. Tennis Association executive Stacey Allaster said in a telephone interview. “We want the attention of the competition to be on the athletes.”

Says Allaster: “I understand it’s polarizing, but ultimately, we have to look at how tennis competes and is relevant. ... Access is a key part of it; engagement with fans that want to hear from the players and coaches.”

Says Patrick Mouratoglou: “I have never understood why tennis is just about the only sport in which coaching during matches is not allowed.”  Mouratoglou, who acknowledged right after last year’s final that he was attempting to communicate with his player and also noted, correctly, that surreptitious coaching happens all the time and goes unpunished.   Full story here.

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Serena Williams, USA and Naomi Osaka, Japan, 2018 U.S. Open Final

Today was a complicated, gratifying and honoring of the God we serve day for Serena Williams.

As all of us who reside in the faith community know, the Grace of God is supreme, and manifesting that same Grace that has been bestowed upon us time after time is paramount.

After receiving a penalty when being accused of a coaching violation by Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos, Serena became very upset with what she saw as not only an attack on her character, but a sexist action due to the fact that MANY men have done a lot worse but have never been penalized in the manner that she was.

Serena was obviously upset with Ramos and his actions, but it appeared that the unrealistic characterization of her bothered her most. After calling upon Tournament Referee Brian Earley to assist in sorting out the disagreement, Serena began to pull her composure together and eventually restarted play. Shortly thereafter Naomi Osaka prevailed.

As the championship crowning festivities introductions began, the fans booed very obviously and loudly, a first for me! Eventually Serena spoke and quelled the boos. "I don’t want to be rude. She played well. Let’s make this the best moment we can, let’s not boo any more."

.@serenawilliams instructs crowd to stop booing and celebrate @Naomi_Osaka_'s moment of winning her first grand slam. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/LOAyB42OmQ

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 8, 2018

Serena also embraced and attempted to comfort a mixed-emotions Osaka... a very powerful moment.

From boos to cheers. An emotional and powerful moment for Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams at the US Open podium. (🔊⬆️) pic.twitter.com/oTg6SORjXe

— ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2018

Whatever anyone's thoughts or feelings with regard to the coaching accusation and penalization, one definite truth shone brightly in the midst of the drama. Serena's respect for, and desire to see the 2018 U.S. Open Champion Naomi Osaka celebrated, far outweighed all else that occurred during the match.

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2018 U.S. Open Champion Naomi Osaka, Japan

Congratulations to a very determined, strictly business on the courts player, 20-year-old Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Watching Osaka grow and tune her game over the years has been wonderful. It has been very visible seeing her mental growth as she watches her opponents tactics and adjusts her own to amp up her game and whatever the outcome, continue to move forward.

Osaka's apparent introverted personality seems to keep her in a very working and focused mode during her matches, as it did today with the very unfortunate circumstance of her opponent, 23 Grand Slam title holder Serena Williams.

Osaka maintained her composure, continued with the same game before and after the incident, and I believe came out on top as she would have had the incident not occurred. As Osaka  played and prevailed in the first set, there was no doubt that her skill level and desire to take the match was on a level that could make it happen... and it did.

Though Osaka's win came in the midst of a controversy, it was incontrovertible and she deserves ever accolade, prize money and all the love that she receives.

She may be a quiet spirit, but it's a powerful, as well as graceful one.

KEEP IT MOVING NAOMI - GREAT JOB!

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Day 1. Just getting started... #usopen pic.twitter.com/DdI0RKPHbb

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) August 27, 2018

On Monday afternoon, Sloane Stephens began her US Open defense with an almost-routine win over Evgeniya Rodina, 6-1, 7-5, in their first career meeting.

The American couldn’t have wished for a better start as she closed out the first set in less than 30 minutes. The world No. 80 didn’t truly settle in until she was down 4-2 in the second set, which helped Stephens shake off some early nerves.

"I was a little bit nervous. I think obviously it's never easy as an American playing in the US Open," Stephens said. "I think I've felt worse nerves than that, playing here before in previous years."

Things are very different for Stephens this time around in New York. The 25-year-old returns as a US Open and Miami Open champion, a world No. 3 and a Nike star, decked out in a bright orange dress.

Another change for Stephens was playing in the new Louis Armstrong Stadium, complete with a retractable roof. It's quite breezy inside thanks to its open-air setup, designed so that when the roof is closed, there’s still a natural atmosphere on court. The new breezeway allows fans to walk and talk during play, and since the slot of open air is barely above eye level, it adds a new challenge for players trying to tune out the noise and movement.

"It was just loud," Stephens said. "There was a lot going on between the airplanes and the subway behind the court, the concessions being in the lower bowl, and people walking in the games at, like, 2-all, 3-all. Yes, it was fun to play first day on a brand-new stadium court. But there was a lot happening. Full article here.

Lock in NYC 🔒 #usopen pic.twitter.com/vGakycr3Lt

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) August 26, 2018

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Heartbreaking scene in New York as Felix Auger-Aliassime retires after heart issues at the #USOpen.

Starts to cry as he comes together at the net with his Canadian friend and teammate, @denis_shapo pic.twitter.com/Ik4wc3FQCM

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 27, 2018

After having a trainer visit two games into the third set of  the 2018 U.S. Open first round, eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime worked the court slower and slower and eventually retired from the match against his close friend and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Shapovalov came over to his teary-eyed friend and provided very admirable support. Courtside microphones picked up Auger-Aliassime telling Shapovalov: “My team said it’s just not worth it.”

 “What me and Felix have is truly incredible,” Shapovalov said. “It’s truly making the sport bigger in our country, and hopefully we continue to do that.”

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Thank you to the incredible @virgilabloh

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Aug 27, 2018 at 7:52pm PDT

willing to design dresses for her for life.

A post shared by @ virgilabloh on Aug 27, 2018 at 7:05pm PDT

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Twenty-nine-year-old Donald Young has made the US Open main draw every year for 14 years, and continued to do so this year in a very exciting way. Young came through the qualifying rounds with true grit and workmanship. So great to see him continue to move forward.

Keep it movin' Donald Young!!

Eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also powered through the 2018 US Open qualifying rounds thereby obtaining a spot in the main draw.Unbeknownst to him, round one of the tournament would pit him against friend and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Win or lose, Auger-Aliassime is a sight to behold in the game.

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