I think that the ESPN commentators were (for the most part) understating the severity of the exchanges Serena was having with the Chair Umpire. I hope I am detailing things correctly....It started with an incident where her coach was caught coaching from the stands. Serena denied that was happening and that her coach was just giving her a thumbs up. That was simply not true because when they interviewed her coach he said he was coaching and that every coahc does it.
The 2nd incident was when Serena slammed her racket into the ground. That 2nd incident cost her a point. The 3rd incident was Serena berating the Umpire about the coaching from the stands call. She was demanding an apology (over and over again) from the ump because she claimed that the ump was calling her a cheater. She then told him that not only was he dishonest but that he was a thief for stealing a point from her.
That resulted in an abuse penalty which (because it was the 3rd incident) it cost her a game. That put Osaka up 5-3 in the second set. Serena went on to win her service game and then Osaka won the Championship on serve in the next game.
I think that everyone was way to soft on Serena by saying things like...."every coach coaches from the stands"...."why was the ump picking on Serena"
The point being it is illegal and it was due to get called. Sernea then went on to use the victim card and worse the discrimination against women card which seemed to resonate with the women on the ESPN panel.
I was embarrassed for Serena (and the panel) and I hope she just lets the whole thing drop but I suspect she wont do that. She will likely pursue the victim/discrimination angle which IMO is a shame. This SJW BS seems to be creeping into every aspect of society these days.
Anyway....
I have never seen anything like that and I have been watching tennis since I was a kid when Conner's and McEnroe were playing. Crazy s***.
I am sure that match will show up on the TSN on demand channel or at the very least be replayed later tonight. If you can watch it it would be well worth it.