Serena Williams bows out of the US Open after a heated face off against Australia’s A. Tomljonovic at the Ashe Stadium, New York on Saturday, September 3, 2022. The match which lasted almost 3 hours was followed by a rush of emotions after Williams lost in what was thought to be her one step away to winning her 24th Grand Slam title. The game ended, 7-5-6-7 (4) 6-1 in favour of Tolmjonovic.
Williams’ previous matches had been excellent. She had eclipsed Montenegro’s D. Kovinic and Eastonia’s A. Kontaveit at the first and the second rounds respectively to pick against Tomaljonvic in the third round. Many of William’s fans had hoped to see the 23 Grand Slams winner to clinch another Grand Slam this year before she retires to enable her equal Margret Courts’ 24 GS record which still stood as the highest in the history of game. However, Williams remains the greatest Grand Slammer since the Open era which began in 1968. Tomaljonovic said she felt like a villain for winning but highly honoured to have played with the legend in her last match.
In the vogue magazine where Serena Williams had declared her intentions to evolve away from tennis after this year’s US Open, she’d also mentioned that even though she didn’t expect to win the 2022 US Open, she’d be dishonest if she said she didn’t want that Court’s record.
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Since the beginning of her professional performance in 1995, Williams has recorded 367 major match winnings. She won her first major in the 1999 US Open at the age of 17 years old which made her the first black American since Arthur Ashe in 1975 and the first black American woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to win a singles major . She’s also one of the few players male or female who have won a career Grand slam in both singles and doubles, and the only player so far to have won a career Golden slam – that is win Olympic Gold as well – in both categories.
Since her 23rd Grand Slam at the 2017 Australia open which she won at the age of 35 years old Williams has held her status as world’s number one and oldest female tenniser to win a major.
The following are some of her achievements:
186 Consecutive Weeks at No 1
4 times Olympic Gold Medalist
23 times Major Championship
7 Australian Open Titles
3 French Open Titles
7 Wimbledon Titles
6 US open Titles
73 Singles Titles
23 Doubles Titles
Williams expressed gratitude to her fans and family, giving special recognition to her sister and ‘twin-tenniser’, Venus. Here is what she said:
“I just thank everyone that’s here that’s been on my side for so many years, literally decades. But it all started with my parents and they deserve everything so I’m really grateful for them. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you Venus. It’s been a fun ride.”
Asked whether she might be moved to reconsider her retirement, Williams said “I don’t think so, but you never know.”
The following are remarks of fans about Williams:
“At 40 years old, she’s still one of the worlds greatest athletes. We are truly proud of her”.
“She’s the GOAT and I’d think no one really will ever rival her legacy.”
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