A petulant Serena Williams spoiled Naomi Osaka’s US Open moment, writes Leo Schlink

AS prolific and successful as Serena Williams is, she had no right to rain on Naomi Osaka’s parade with her self-obsessed and infantile tantrum, writes LEO SCHLINK.

THERE are two undeserving casualties from Serena Williams’ infantile US Open meltdown — Naomi Osaka and the sport’s already battered reputation.

Williams’s apologists were livid post-match, barraging umpire Carlos Ramos for doing nothing more than applying the rules.

That the much-respected Portuguese official was heavy-handed with the coaching warning is arguable. But he was strictly within his rights to issue it.

FIRST EVER: OSAKA’S HISTORIC US OPEN WIN

IMPLOSION: WORLD REACTS TO SERENA’S MELTDOWN

Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou admitted he was coaching, a revelation which did not please his client.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if Williams spotted the Frenchman’s signals or not. He was caught coaching and it was illegal.

That Williams, despite experience, success and stature, then completely unravelled and failed to regroup is also beyond dispute.

It is her failure, and the subsequent posturing did her no credit.

To mangle a racquet in anger was her decision.

To call an umpire a cheat and a liar was her decision — and puerile.

Serena Williams unleashed an extraoridnary tirade on chair umpire Carlos Ramos. Picture: AFP

Williams’s post-match plea to a typically boorish Flushing Meadow crowd to stop booing during the trophy presentation was admirable — but too little, too late.

Osaka, 20, by then was inconsolable.

Her greatest moment had been hijacked and, off court, the pro-Serena troops were rallying with mindless ferocity.

How was it, they thundered, that the gratingly brash Jimmy Connors escaped any sanction at the 1991 US Open for branding an umpire “an abortion” and Serena was docked a game for calling Ramos a cheat and a liar?

It’s pretty simple, really.

David Littlefield, the official who bore the brunt of Connors’ venom, failed to use authority at his disposal.

Ramos would have marched the childish Connors, then 39, out of the tournament.

As prolific and as monumentally successful as Williams is, she had no right to rain on Osaka’s parade.

Williams lost her cool with match referee Brian Earley. Picture: AFP

There are those in tennis blinded to the beautiful uncertainty of sport; the innate volatility that provides romance and upsets.

Williams devotees have seemingly failed to consider that one of the greatest athletes of all time — and from any sport — might not win another major and equal Margaret Court’s record of 24.

Such a scenario runs contrary to tiresome “GOAT (greatest of all time)” assessments.

Naomi Osaka in tears after her US Open triumph. Picture: AFP

Williams has been a radiant and powerful symbol for so many tremendous causes. She is entitled to drop her guard because, after all, she is proudly and beautifully flawed.

But her self-obsessed rolling tantrum against a grand slam tyro who outplayed her was another reminder of her excessive petulance.

And it’s not the first time. She was fined $175,000 and put on probation after threatening a linesperson at the 2009 US Open.

The same two officials who tried to placate Williams then — Brian Earley and Donna Butler — were again involved.

An angry Serena Williams smashes her racquet. Picture: AP

There is clearly a common and tellingly unaddressed thread.

On a day when a new grand slam champion was forced to play second fiddle to controversy, the Women’s Tennis Association managed to capture tennis’ warped values with a pathetically weak response.

“There are matters that need to be looked into that took place during the match. For tonight, it is time to celebrate these two amazing players, both of whom have great integrity,” it said.

The killer line was simply breathtaking: “Naomi is a deserving champion and Serena at all times plays with class and makes us proud.”