Mike Tyson: Serena Williams was unfairly targeted at US Open final

Boxing legend Mike Tyson on Friday defended fellow American Serena Williams, who was on the receiving end of two penalties during her US Open final defeat to Japan’s Naomi Osaka last month.

“I thought it was a wrong call the chair umpire made. Serena was unfairly targeted,” said Tyson, quoted the Hindustan Times, on the sidelines of the launch of Kumite 1 League (K1L) in India.

Williams, who made her return into Tennis after the birth of her daughter Olympia reached consecutive finals at the Wimbledon and US Open, losing both. In the latter she engaged in a verbal confrontation with the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, that led to her first receiving a warning for illegal coaching during the match, then a point penalty for throwing her racquet to the ground and finally a game penalty for verbal abuse.

Tyson though agreed that the 23-time Grand Slam winner could have handled herself better. She should have kept her cool and not argued with him. Arguing with him would have never done her any good,” he added.

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He may be a boxing legend and may have won many titles in his glittering career, but for the 52-year-old Tennis is what he follows most now after retirement.

Part of his love for tennis can be attributed to his daughter being a budding player in the game and the great man enjoys watching her play during his spare time.

“I am a tennis dad,” he says. “I just love watching my daughter play tennis.”

His favourite player is Serbian Novak Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion. Tyson calls hin a fighter, for his ability to make a mark in the era of two other rears in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“Djokovic is my favourite because the way he has come back from injury ( he missed the French Open with injury) and beaten guys like Nadal and Federer is amazing. He is a true fighter,” he said.

He aspires to become a Hollywood star. “I have already done some cameos. Hopefully, I can do more of it in the future,” he said. But for now, Tyson wants to cheer for the fighters from India and UAE when they get to the ring in the opening fixture of the Kumite 1 League, a global team mixed Martial arts league.

Image Credit – NDTV Sports