Who was the umpire in the 2018 US Open final involving Serena Williams?

Carlos Ramos was the chair umpire in the 2018 US Open final involving Serena Williams. The match was played on September 8, 2018, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, with Williams facing Naomi Osaka.

Ramos became a central figure in the final after issuing Williams a warning for coaching during the second set. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, later acknowledged that he had gestured from the player box, although Williams said she had not received coaching. Ramos subsequently penalized Williams for racquet abuse and verbal abuse, eventually awarding Osaka a game penalty.

Osaka won the final 6–2, 6–4, claiming her first major singles title. The match attracted worldwide attention because of the dispute between Williams and Ramos, including Williams’s accusations of unfair treatment and sexism. The International Tennis Federation later said Ramos’s decisions followed the applicable rules.

A common mix-up is confusing Ramos with tournament officials or with umpires from other Serena Williams finals. Ramos was specifically the on-court chair umpire for this Osaka–Williams match.