Overcoming the emotion, in front of 23,800 fans who only had eyes for her, despite the specter of a final defeat probably synonymous with retirement, Serena Williams made a successful debut at the US Open on Monday, extending the pleasure until after a ceremony in the form of an ultimately premature tribute.
Farewells are more beautiful when they are not yet. Carried by “GOAT” (“Greatest of all time”, “the greatest of all time”) chanted from the stands of the Arthur-Ashe court, the scene of some of his greatest victories – including six coronations in Flushing Meadows– the 40-year-old American ended up shining brighter, beating Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (6-3, 6-3).
She even sparkled in the New York oven.
Diamonds are forever. Serena too. So she had decided to wear it. No less than 400, in the hair, encrusted on her headband, on her black dress and on her sneakers, said precious stones drawing the Nike logo with stars around it.
The “Queen” entered the arena in a crash of decibels, after a video showing her six coronations at Flushing Meadows, commented on by another famous Queen, Latifah, singer, actress, producer, hailing “the queen” who “doesn’t will never be defeated without a fight”.
– “The crowd was crazy” –
Serena put her stuff by her chair and slipped a note to a young ball boy, who was living there a dream moment so close to the idol. More than two hours later, the teenager will be very proud to carry her bag, to bring it back to the locker room.
Under the eyes of her husband Alexis Ohanian, her daughter Olympia and an audience of stars — Mike Tyson, Lindsey Vonn, Hugh Jackman, Spike Lee, Bill Clinton, who was president when Williams began writing his legend in 1999 with a first Major title at the US Open– Serena roared, screamed, clenched her fist and even raised it on her way to a victory worth many triumphs.
The excitement was at its height on his first match point, the right one, the public standing before his opponent’s service, to immortalize the moment with the phones.
“Unheard of in Flushing” from the memory of a journalist from the New York Times who has nevertheless seen many historic matches.
“The crowd was crazy. It really helped me out. I feel so comfortable, in front of everyone here. When I step onto the court, I just want to do my best, especially a night like this,” she confided later.
Victory in hand, everyone then exulted, in the stands where diversity has never been so visible for a sport long reserved for the white elite. Proof of Serena’s immense impact on her sport.
– “You are not afraid of anything” –
“Ten or twenty years ago, this place didn’t look like this,” says Tia Green, a 50-year-old from Oklahama City with four cousins. “Coming from an underprivileged neighborhood in California, Compton, where there were no tennis courts…She became an inspiration and dominated the sport. For minorities, she is an ambassador. She showed that you could do things you thought were impossible.”
Icon beyond the courts, Serena did not fail to be greeted, during a ceremony of about half an hour in the presence of another tennis legend, Billie Jean King, dressed in pink “because c is your favorite color”.
“You’re not afraid of anything. I love it. And you hate losing. It’s awesome. You have touched our hearts and minds. Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to more diversity, equity and diversity. inclusion, especially for women and women of color,” the gender equality activist paid tribute to her.
“Thank you for showing us how to be graceful, powerful and fearless. Thank you for showing us what it means to come back and for never, ever backing down. Know that whatever you do next, we will be watching you. With love, we all,” TV star Oprah Winfrey, another major African-American personality, told her.
“Next”? It happens on Wednesday. Because Serena the fighter intends to continue her last dance against the Estonian Anett Kontaveit, any world N.2 she is.