Serena Williams

Serena Williams is expected to hang up her tennis racket for good after defeat at the US Open and some of the biggest names in history of sport have rushed.

Twenty-seven years on the professional tour, 23 grand slam singles titles and a plethora of records; Serena Williams is leaving tennis as one of the ...

Williams, who lost possibly her last match on Friday night, made herself felt beyond the game as arguably no player ever has.

When it was over, Venus hugged her downcast sister at the net and said, in her ear, “I love you.” Try forgetting that. I wasn’t there in 2001, when Serena, playing her older sister Venus, anxious and unable to settle in—as she often was against Venus—made batches of unforced errors and lost her second U.S. Even before I was born, it was what I was meant to do and what I was supposed to do and what was chosen for me.” The Times sent a reporter to an obscure tournament in Canada in October, 1995, to cover her first professional match—which she lost badly, to an eighteen-year-old American named Annie Miller. In the seventh game of that set, Serena crushed a return winner to break Andreescu’s serve; then she held her own serve; then she broke Andreescu’s serve again and held once more to even the set at 5–5. There was also, a year later, Serena’s [final](https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/in-her-us-open-victory-bianca-andreescu-shows-the-swagger-that-serena-williams-brought-to-womens-tennis) against Bianca Andreescu, in which she dropped the first set, and fell behind five games to one in the second. The last ball she hit was a forehand into the net, and it was likely the last ball she will ever hit on the women’s tour—she announced, in August, that she was “evolving away from tennis,” and the understanding was that the U.S. As dominant a player as she was—the most dominant the sport has seen—her struggles were also numerous, and absorbing, and, sometimes, spectacular enough to become indelible. She would go on to lose the set, 5–7, and the match, and her last real shot at a twenty-fourth major—but not before driving those on hand to cheer for her to raucous delirium. Serena has played in the main singles draw at the U.S. To be a fan of any athlete is to know the ending and to begin processing it before it arrives. For certain stretches, such as the first games of the second set, Serena struck aces and open-stance backhands and swinging volleys as if time—and giving birth to a daughter, five years ago—had taken nothing from her game. It was Daniel Kahneman, with the American psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, who recognized that, in what and how we remember, there tends to be a cognitive bias at work.

Muhammad Ali and perhaps Billie Jean King aside, has any athlete made a greater impact on society than Serena Williams? And she may be only just beginning.

Do not forget the postnatal depression, and the two pulmonary embolisms which endangered her life. Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport had started the ball rolling, but this type of aggressive hitting had not been seen before. In her 2009 autobiography Queen of the Court, she talks about slipping into depression. The sister, who had inspired the glowing newspaper articles and was originally the main focus of their father Richard. The target was, though, incredibly motivating and helped a 30-plus Williams win more than half of the Slams she entered between Wimbledon 2012 and the Australian Open of 2017. Williams won a total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, despite only winning two in a five year period in her mid-20s. So knowing that going in, or some doctors not caring as much for us, is heartbreaking." The sister, whose bed she sometimes had to share as a child but from whom she learnt so much and gained so much of her drive. She never settled for less." The sister, who in Serena's words was "taller, prettier, quicker and more athletic". Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles was always a false target, as the phenomenally successful Australian won 13 of those titles when professionals were banned from taking part. Be yourself, was the message.

Pure grit and scintillating play – Williams's curtain call against Ajla Tomljanović demonstrated how she changed all sport for ever.

She had a magical run, she played brilliantly at times, she reminded everyone of the qualities that have made her a legend. It turns out, not too surprisingly, that Williams has a decent nose for an investment: she has so far funded 16 “unicorns”, companies valued at more than $1bn. “She doesn’t want anything to do with a boy,” says Williams – and Serena, the youngest of five sisters, doesn’t want to deny her that. The first to pay homage to Williams was a shell-shocked Tomljanović, who said before the match that she planned to play in earplugs to drown out the partisan support. But on Friday night, it was also clear that she felt a small pang of regret: how much deeper could she have gone if she’d started practising a little earlier? “Surreal” was a spot-on description for the evening, which started for a UK audience at midnight and culminated after 3am. Williams won her first grand-slam title, aged 17, in a different century: the US Open in 1999. She thanked her dad Richard, and her mum Oracene, who was the only person in the stadium not losing their mind, and may even have been having a nap at times. Current players, from Naomi Osaka to Coco Gauff to Emma Raducanu, spoke powerfully about how she paved the way for them, and She prefers to say that she is in “transition”, although she’s well aware that’s a sensitive concept in 2022, so generally when she’s asked about what’s next for her, Williams settles on “evolution”. Williams often jokes that she is the “world’s worst” at goodbyes, but on court, after the match, she did a pretty terrific job. [Williams lost an exhilarating, excruciating third-round match](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/02/serena-williams-ajla-tomljanovi-us-open-tennis-third-round-retirement) at the US Open to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović.

The American was in tears on Arthur Ashe Stadium following the final match of her career.

But I just honestly am so grateful that I had this moment and that I’m Serena.” What she’s done for the sport of tennis is incredible. I feel like I really brought something, and bring something, to tennis. She said: “I’m feeling really sorry because I love Serena just as much as you guys do. “It takes a lot of work to get here. I could go on and on. I don’t know what that involvement is yet.” I’m so thankful and grateful for that.” It takes a lot more than that. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you Venus. I am so grateful for it. Thank you daddy, I know you’re watching.

"I wouldn't be Serena if there wasn't Venus, so thank you Venus."

She added: “It takes a lot of work to get here. I’m so thankful and grateful for that.” It takes a lot more than that. I am so grateful for it. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you Venus. “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.

It might be hard to believe this after witnessing the endless tributes to one of the game's all-time greats in New York over the last few days, but a select ...

[Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) [News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/news/) [US Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/us-open/) So it is thank you to Serena… [WTA Tour](https://www.tennis365.com/category/wta-tour/) Had she carried on, Steffi could have won more majors and comfortably overtaken Court’s Grand Slam record. In addition, she is the only tennis player, male or female, to have won each major tournament at least four times. Margaret Court, Billie Keane, Chrissie, me and, of course, Steffi Graf.” The majors became a huge measuring stick in the ’90s forward, but not back then. They are legacies that should never be forgotten. We next get to Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who enjoyed a compelling rivalry that included 80 matches between 1973 and 1988, 60 of which were finals.

Williams, who turns 41 later this month, bowed out of the US Open in the third round - having confirmed before the tournament that it would be her last.

PATRICK MOURATOGLOU left Serena Williams' fans unhappy with his social media post about her retirement.

“Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams doesn’t have much to say re her retirement,” one person tweeted alongside a screenshot of his Instagram post. And others noted the stark contrast in the length of his posts about Halep to his post about Williams. “Serena and Patrick worked together for 10+ years and that post is the best he could do?” one fan tweeted, as another replied: “He should have written a whole novel about her”.

When the 23-time major champion says she's retiring, maybe it's time to believe her – and for her to believe herself.

It was a weight only redoubled by the two strikes against her in American society: being born a woman and being born black. Then a fourth, then a fifth as the match extended past the three-hour mark. Other than winning the whole tournament, it was the perfect way to go out: 15 minutes of pure fight. When Williams won her first of 23 grand slam titles at the 1999 US Open as a 17-year-old, her road to the trophy included five opponents who one day would end up in the Hall of Fame: Kim Clijsters, Conchita Martínez, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis. Even as she fielded a congratulatory phone call from President Clinton afterward, it was impossible to fully reckon the extent to which her triumph would shape the perception of female athletes in the new millennium. She will continue to define success on her own terms as she has for nearly three decades in the unsparing public eye as a working-class black woman from Compton who rewrote the record books of a sport predominantly owned, played and watched by affluent white people. [only the latest example of a great champion](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/14/tom-bradys-nfl-return-is-both-understandable-and-potentially-foolish) finding it hard to close the book on the glory days. [Serena Williams](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/serena-williams) Invitational over the course of five days that boasted record attendances and US television ratings – has been so fulfilling. Even in the cathartic aftermath of [Friday night’s third-round defeat](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/02/serena-williams-ajla-tomljanovi-us-open-tennis-third-round-retirement) to Ajla Tomljanović, the sudden deluge of tears seemed to express a finality that she either could not or would not articulate in words. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.” With a marriage to a supportive partner who shares her values, a daughter who just turned five and a venture capital firm that has raised more than $100m, there will be no crisis over her sense of purpose. But these extended farewells almost always end in a messy defeat: as a last act, Friday night’s epic in front of roaring crowd on Arthur Ashe was about as good as it gets.

Coco Gauff and Sachin Tendulkar also paid tribute to the 23-time grand slam singles champion.

Among the many others paying tribute from within the tennis world was former US Open champion Andy Roddick, who tweeted: “I love you @serenawilliams. And yet her greatest contributions may be yet to come. “You have been unbelievable. for showing the world every time you were out there you were the greatest. She tweeted: “Her incredible career made its mark on tennis history. We all knew that you were the greatest.

The emergence and subsequent dominance of Williams and sister Venus forced tennis to confront, not always willingly, its attitudes to race and strong women.

Spurred on by her critics, she lost just three games to Maria Sharapova in the final. The previous decade had been much more up and down, with Williams’ successes interspersed with lengthy absences. This was not a picture of tennis as a white, middle class sport. Venus and Richard said they were racially abused in the stands. There has never been a tennis champion like Williams, and there may never be again. It is a story that has often been told but perhaps is still undersold.

TENNIS legend Serena Williams has been hailed as the “greatest of all time” after she played her last match of her iconic career.The 23-time grand.

I’m just so grateful because it got me here.” And yet her greatest contributions may be yet to come. I should’ve started sooner this year! Tennis icon Billie Jean King tweeted: “Her incredible career made its mark on tennis history. I love you little sis!” [LeBron James](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/lebron-james/), [Michael Phelps](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/michael-phelps/), [Andy Roddick](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/tennis/16122213/andy-roddick-defends-emma-raducanu-timeout-row/), and [Coco Gauff](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/coco-gauff/) also sent in their tributes to Williams. “And I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said “go Serena” in life. Golf legend Tiger Woods called Williams the greatest on and off the court and posted online and said: “Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. “I’m proud of you, my friend—and I can’t wait to see the lives you continue to transform with your talents.” [Michelle Obama](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/michelle-obama/), golf legend [Tiger Woods](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/tiger-woods/) and tennis icon [Billie Jean King](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/3057784/billie-jean-king-womens-tennis-sports-personality-lifetime-achievement-award/) were among those who sent tributes to Williams, 41, and her astonishing career. TENNIS legend Serena Williams has been hailed as the “greatest of all time” after she played her last match of her iconic career. [grand slam champion](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/serena-williams/) burst into tears after she was beaten in the third round of the [US Open](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/us-open-tennis/), by [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19693060/serena-williams-tomljanovic-us-open-live-score-result/).

The 23-time Grand Slam champion lost to Ajla Toljanovic in the third round on Friday to mark the end of her career, but has had her say on the chances of being ...

I’m ready to be a mum, explore a different version of Serena.” And her comments came after she [Serena Williams](/latest/serena-williams) has hinted that she could make a U-turn on her decision to retire as early as January after playing the final match of her career at the US Open. I always did love Australia, though.” Williams had already been vague about her final tournament earlier in the week, but admitted that she didn’t know whether she would want to put in the time to keep training despite being “capable”.