In a game that further enlarged his legendSerena Williams was eliminated this Friday by the australian Ajla Tomljanovic on the US Open Third Round and, with tears in his eyes, he said that he does not intend to reconsider his withdrawal.
At almost 41 years old, Williams battled until the end saving up to five match points in three hours of battle against Tomljanovic, who won 7-5, 6-7 (4-7) and 6-1.
At almost 41 years old, and after almost three decades of career, Serena Williams retired from tennis. She was 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles trophies and 4 Olympic golds. The best tennis player of all time. Legend. THANKS FOR SO MUCH, GOAT.
???? @usopen pic.twitter.com/fwhsg4d22E
– Undefeated (@InvictosSomos) September 3, 2022
This epic match was followed by Serena’s emotional farewellone of the great figures in the history of sport with 23 titles of Grand Slam.
Unable to repress emotion Williams thanked her mother Oracene and her older sister Venus on the trackwho were in the stands, and his father Richard, “who is surely watching me”, for “the most incredible trip of my life”.
“It all started with my parents,” Williams said.. “They deserve everything. I am very grateful for them.”
“And it wouldn’t be Serena if Venus didn’t exist, so thank you, Venus.. She is the only reason Serena Williams has ever existed,” she said of her older sister and fellow tennis star.
In words that seemed to convey goodbye, to Williams was asked if he might reconsider withdrawing. which he announced last month.
“I do not think so… but you never know,” he replied with an enigmatic smile that could spark rumors of a comeback.
an epic defeat
After a year of inactivity and painful defeats in the few preparation matches, Williams amazed the world this week at the US Open with two amazing wins against the Montenegrin Danka Kovinic y to Estonia Anett Kontaveita whole number two in the world ranking.
If on Friday the comeback had culminated Ante Tomljanovic She would have also become the oldest tennis player to dispute some Round of 16 of a Grand Slam since the start of the Open era in 1968.
Williams paid the wear and tear of an intense week in which he played four games in the last five days, with less than 24 hours rest since her doubles loss to Venus.
Even so was able to take a second set of intense emotions in the ‘tiebreak’, overcoming four lost set pointsand to go bankrupt in the first game of the definitive manga.
But Tomljanovicunlike previous rivals, no less was done before the size of the legend in front of him or the 23,800 fans at the world’s largest track.
Twelve years younger, lThe Australian took advantage of Serena’s physical exhaustion for and inscribed his name in the final chapter of the great champion.
“I’m so sorry because I love Serena as much as we do.“, the Australian told the crowd. “What he has done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible.”
“I never thought that I would have the opportunity to play against her in her last match“, he stressed.