Serena Plays Final Match and Leaves a Legacy
It was Friday night that Serena Williams gave her final tennis match in the Women’s Single US Open. An exciting battle against Australian player Ajla Tomljanović was a loss for the world renowned tennis player.
Williams said, “It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on in my life,” after what is expected to be her last performance on the court. “I don’t give up. Definitely wasn’t giving up tonight.”
During the match, Williams took a loss in the third round and was eliminated from the U.S. Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams announced and outlined her inevitable retirement, effective after this year’s U.S. Open the previous week.
Williams said “Thank you so much, you guys were amazing today. I wish I played a little bit better. Thank you daddy, I know you’re watching. Thanks mom,” Williams said on the court. “I just 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. These are happy tears, I guess! I don’t know. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you Venus.”
This single tennis match loss, although final, doesn’t erase the legacy Williams has built over her career. As a minority and a female to make such an impact on the world in such a sport is incredibly brave. She changed the sport forever and the world.