Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day. 
&nbsp; 
That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that. 
&nbsp; 
If Serena looks back on her 2018 season, she just might find it to be the most meaningful as she returned to the court this past March a wife, a mother and an American tennis star.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
She donned a Marvel-worthy cat suit at the French Open and reached the final at the Wimbledon, but it was the impact she made off the court and during a final that set her apart. 
&nbsp; 
The former world No1 had already revealed in an interview that she was bedridden for six weeks after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia last year following an emergency caesarean section. 
&nbsp; 
“First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism. I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from travelling to my lungs,” Serena had revealed. 
&nbsp; 
Aiming to return to No 1 spot, Williams took to the court at Roland Garros wearing her 'Black Panther' cat suit which she insisted also performed a key health role for a woman who had suffered life-threatening blood clots when giving birth last year. 
 
However, weeks after the tournament ended, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli created a uproar saying the cat suit would be banned as “one must respect the game and the place.” 
&nbsp; 
Things turned sour with many supporting the former No 1 while some agreeing for a proper dress code for the professional tournament like French Open. 
&nbsp; 
However, the major controversy that tainted Serena's image during the US Open final against Naomi Osaka in September when chair umpire Carlos Ramos handed Williams a rare coaching penalty in the second set. 
&nbsp; 
Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4 in New York. She believed the penalty could be interpreted as her being called a cheater and frustrated with that she raised her voice, "I'd rather lose than cheat." 
&nbsp; 
The crowd largely reacted in defence of Williams but in the days after the match, many people who had once praised her began to question her behaviour.

Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day. That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that.

Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day. That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that. If Serena looks back on her 2018 season, she just might find it to be the most meaningful as she returned to the court this past March a wife, a mother and an American tennis star. She donned a Marvel-worthy cat suit at the French Open and reached the final at the Wimbledon, but it was the impact she made off the court and during a final that set her apart. The former world No1 had already revealed in an interview that she was bedridden for six weeks after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia last year following an emergency caesarean section. “First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism. I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from travelling to my lungs,” Serena had revealed. Aiming to return to No 1 spot, Williams took to the court at Roland Garros wearing her 'Black Panther' cat suit which she insisted also performed a key health role for a woman who had suffered life-threatening blood clots when giving birth last year. However, weeks after the tournament ended, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli created a uproar saying the cat suit would be banned as “one must respect the game and the place.” Things turned sour with many supporting the former No 1 while some agreeing for a proper dress code for the professional tournament like French Open. However, the major controversy that tainted Serena's image during the US Open final against Naomi Osaka in September when chair umpire Carlos Ramos handed Williams a rare coaching penalty in the second set. Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4 in New York. She believed the penalty could be interpreted as her being called a cheater and frustrated with that she raised her voice, "I'd rather lose than cheat." The crowd largely reacted in defence of Williams but in the days after the match, many people who had once praised her began to question her behaviour.

Serena Williams’ 2018: 3 major appearances, 2 Grand Slam finals and an infamous controversy

US Open champion Naomi Osaka secured a berth at the WTA finals, scheduled to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 21-28 October.

The 20-year-old, who became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament after defeating Serena Williams in straight sets in New York last month, is the third player to confirm her qualification for the event.&nbsp;

World No. 1 Simona Halep and No. 3 Angelique Kerber have qualified ahead of Osaka.

"Qualifying for the WTA Finals is a huge accomplishment," said Osaka.

The Japanese tennis star defeated Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia to win a junior version of the Singapore tournament and will be returning for the first time as a senior.

"Winning the WTA Rising Stars Invitational in 2015 helped give me the confidence to play on the big stages, so I am excited to go back to Singapore and compete with the top players of the season," she added.

It would be Osaka's maiden appearance in the WTA Finals singles competition, which features only the top eight players of the women’s tennis season.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka secured a berth at the WTA finals, scheduled to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 21-28 October. The 20-year-old, who became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament after defeating Serena Williams in straight sets in New York last month, is the third player to confirm her qualification for the event.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka secured a berth at the WTA finals, scheduled to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 21-28 October. The 20-year-old, who became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament after defeating Serena Williams in straight sets in New York last month, is the third player to confirm her qualification for the event. World No. 1 Simona Halep and No. 3 Angelique Kerber have qualified ahead of Osaka. "Qualifying for the WTA Finals is a huge accomplishment," said Osaka. The Japanese tennis star defeated Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia to win a junior version of the Singapore tournament and will be returning for the first time as a senior. "Winning the WTA Rising Stars Invitational in 2015 helped give me the confidence to play on the big stages, so I am excited to go back to Singapore and compete with the top players of the season," she added. It would be Osaka's maiden appearance in the WTA Finals singles competition, which features only the top eight players of the women’s tennis season.

US Open champ Naomi Osaka secures WTA Finals berth

us-open-2018

Us Open 2018, News on Us Open 2018, stories on Us Open 2018, articles on Us Open 2018, Us Open 2018 stories at Wion, Us Open 2018 news, Us Open 2018 latest news

us open-2018

Serena Williams’ 2018: 3 major appearances, 2 Grand Slam finals and an infamous controversy

US Open champ Naomi Osaka secures WTA Finals berth