NEW YORK | A whole page of history was turned on Friday in the largest tennis stadium in the world, where Serena Williams played the last game of her illustrious career.
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For 27 years Serena has revolutionized her sport. From her talent, from her power, from her style, from her frankness, from her involvement and, also, from her longevity.
But even the most beautiful fairy tales have an end. The story that made Williams the greatest player in history ended last night in the third round of the US Open, where she was beaten 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic, 46 years old.And world.
Faced with the importance of the moment, the American was unable to contain her emotions in the final points of the match, wiping her tears with her sleeve as she saw an entire part of her life approaching.
Even the former world number 1 has tried everything to extend this moment to the ground. The final match lasted no less than 10 minutes and ended with Williams throwing one last shot outside the lines.
“I want to thank everyone who is here, everyone who has been with me for years, decades. My God ! Literally decades, “a moved Williams said into Mary Joe Fernandez’s microphone in the minutes following his defeat.
“It all started with my parents,” she continued. They deserve it all. I am so grateful to have them. And there would be no Serena if there were no Venus [son aînée], so thank you Venus. It’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed. “
An unbeatable career
319 weeks at number 1 in the world, 73 WTA singles titles and 23 Grand Slam trophies. This is what 24,000 spectators came to see in action yesterday on Arthur-Ashe, in the slightly insane hopes of seeing Williams continue her legend, despite somewhat insane ticket prices.
Almost a month ago, announced on the pages of the magazine, the icon that will soon turn 41 years old Rowing that his next tournaments would be his last.
However, he never specified that the US Open would be the best. But in view of the greatness of the emotion that inhabited it yesterday, one can suspect that this was precisely the place chosen for these farewells. It was in this stadium that the legend won his first Grand Slam title, 23 years ago.
AFP photo
When she turned to the crowd, after a fiercely contested duel, Serena Williams was moved to tears.
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Strong emotions
Among the spectators present there was an impressive number of stars, as in his first two releases in New York. Including Billie Jean King, former WTA champion and founder, who cheered on the biggest star her circuit had ever known.
Still wearing her famous black dress adorned with diamonds, again diamonds adorning both her hair and her shoes, Williams made her entrance around 7:00 pm to the cheers of the crowd, on this court where she brandished the champion trophy six times.
And true to form, it made them feel strong emotions. As in this first lap, which he could have pocketed at 5-4, but which he eventually let go.
Because in front of her there was an opponent who, evidently, was not intimidated by the great moment in which he was participating in spite of himself. Unstoppable in the defensive phase, aggressive in key moments, Tomljanovic showed the legend all the colors.
AFP photo
Serena Williams gave her all on the main court of the US Open on Friday night.
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She extends the pleasure
Except that Serena didn’t want to say her last word. She quickly took a 4-0 lead in the second set.
And even though the Australian managed to get back on track, Williams won in a tiebreak during which she showed the will to win that has characterized her throughout her career.
Williams also destroyed Tomljanovic at the start of the final set. But after being away from the pitch for a year due to a leg injury and playing only four games before this US Open, the American no longer had the weapons to fight.
Legendary figures
Serena Williams
Born on September 26, 1981 in Michigan
23 Major Singles Titles: A Modern Era Record
- 7 at the Australian Open
- 3 at Roland Garros
- 7 at Wimbledon
- 6 at the US Open
- 73 WTA singles titles
- 23 WTA doubles titles (including 14 Grand Slams)
- 858–156 sheet for singles
- 319 weeks classified n. 1 in the world in singles (of which 186 consecutive, a record she shares with Steffi Graf)
Career Scholarships (prior to US Open)
- $ 124.238.165 – a souvenir
Four Olympic gold medals
- (one single, three double)
First victory on the circuit
- January 1998 in Sydney, against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Last victory on the circuit
- August 2022 at the US Open, against Anett Kontaveit
First title on the circuit
- January 1999 in Paris, against Amélie Mauresmo
Last title on the circuit
- January 2020 in Auckland, against Jessica Pegula
First Grand Slam title
- September 1999 at the US Open, against Martina Hingis
Last Grand Slam title
- January 2017 at the Australian Open, against sister Venus Williams
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