On Tuesday, 9 August 2022, exactly two days before the United State’s National Basketball Association officially declared the retirement of Jersey number 6 across all its games in honour of 11 times NBA champion and greatest of all time in the league, Bill Russell who recently passed away at age 88 years, the US Tennis sector and the fans of the Courte de Paume worldwide were left in a mixed feeling of shock and appreciation after Serena Williams announced her intention to discontinue her practically 30-year-old career trajectory in professional Tennis so that she can focus on other things that are important to her including her desire and responsibility to achieve an equally successful family life.
In her personal essay published in the Vogue, Serena Williams says she will be moving on from playing tennis after this year’s US Open which will run from late August into September in New York. “I am here to tell you that I am evolving away from tennis” she writes saying she never liked the word retirement. She says she’s evolving so that she can focus on her next big goal in life which is to grow her family. According to her, “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair”.
The declaration expectedly reignited existing debate about Serena Williams being the GOAT in Tennis. GOAT, meaning Greatest of All Time is a social appellation fans use to address their hero or heroine based on comparative analysis of their career achievements with other sportspersons in their domain.
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Records show that 41-year-old Serena Williams is indisputably one of America’s finest talents that have successfully registered their names in the world’s hall of fame through grit and fortune. Since her professional debut in 1995, Serena Williams has played in 33 Grand Slam (GS) finals, won 23 single GS, 14 doubles GS, 2 mixed GS titles and 4 Olympic Gold medals to her name.
“Williams has won more Grand Slam titles in the Open era than any other players male or female” Felix Ritchter, Statista Data Journalist says. She’s one of few sport women that conveniently matches or even surpass her male counterparts in longevity.
Williams who will be 41 years old next month holds a total of 73 tour-level single titles and has attained $94million in career winnings, making her the most successful female Tennis player worldwide. She’s also attracted lavish endorsement with big brands including Nike, Peugeot, Beats, Audemer, Nintendo, Procter and Gamble, Lincoln, Gucci and many others.
In spite of her remarkable feat, Serena Williams still has some of her detractors who believe she’s not the GOAT since she’s yet to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 GS titles which she achieved before the Open era that began in 1968. However, a victory in the forthcoming US open will bring her at par with Margaret’s record. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record” Williams said. “I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York, but I’m going to try” she added.
Nike said it would continue working with the tennis amazon who, according to the brand, has redefined what it means to be a true champion and set a legacy that transcends sport to inspire generations.