Williams gives it her all before bidding tennis farewell at US Open
Tennis legend Serena Williams goes all out in her final game against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic, alongside a crowd of almost 24,000 people.
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Serena Williams gives the performance of her life at US Open and bids tennis farewell (Shutterstock)
41-year-old tennis legend Serena Williams bids the game farewell at the US Open with her final match played against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. Despite having lost, 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1, Williams played a thrilling game having saved five match points in her final game and offering tennis fans everywhere an unforgettable performance.
In her last round, after a clear and understandable dip in energy, Williams lost the game after 15 minutes and 22 seconds by planting a forehand into the net. This brought on an allegedly loudest and potentially final standing ovation of her entire career.
Serena waves to the crowd as she leaves the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium 👋 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/yREFGYpYrs
— ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2022
The 2022 US Open, in which she was introduced as the ‘Queen of Queens’ every time she had a game, will mark the end of a 27-year professional career for Williams in which she accumulated 23 major singles.
As the renowned player departed the US Open tennis court for the last time, gave her signature twirl, and waved goodbye, the stadium, almost at a capacity of 24,000 people, bid her farewell with a standing ovation as Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” filled the air.
When interviewed in the center of the court, Williams got emotional. She was asked whether or not she would reconsider her retirement, or as she called it ‘evolving away,’ Williams responded saying "I'm literally playing my way into this and getting better. I should have started sooner this year. I don't think so, but you never know."
Her opponent, Tomljanovic, who advanced into the fourth round to play against Russia's Liudmila Samsonova, took a step to the side and applauded her opponent as she took the microphone.
Williams gave a heartwarming speech during the interview where she thanked people that made her career possible and talked about some history dating back to her first game in 1995 as a 14-year-old. She said "I thank everyone that's here, that's been on my side so many years, decades. Oh my gosh, 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 [sister] Venus, so thank you, Venus. She's the only reason that Serena Williams ever existed."
"I wouldn't be Serena if there wasn't Venus."
— ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2022
Serena Williams shows love to her sister, Venus 💗 pic.twitter.com/3exRlhMAZZ
