Serena Williams ignored Roger Federer plea when strolling away after 2022 US Open
The US Open has supplied tennis followers with the same old welcome cocktail of leisure, shock outcomes and drama, however there’s one factor lacking this 12 months – Serena Williams. The 41-year-old all-time nice selected Flushing Meadows as the best location to deliver down the curtain on her unbelievable profession in 2022.
The New York crowd was no stranger to a slice of Williams success – she received the US Open on six events together with her first title coming in 1999 and the final 15 years later. But that’s only a drop within the ocean in comparison with her total achievements.
In the Open period, she stands out on her personal with a document 23 Grand Slam titles to her identify. Ranked primary on this planet for 319 weeks, together with a joint-record 186-week stretch, she is the one participant within the sport’s historical past to perform a profession Golden Slam in each singles and doubles.
But after turning into a mom for the primary time in September, 2017, Williams’ life priorities began to alter and though she made a welcome return to the game she used an interview with Vogue journal in August 2022 to disclose that the forthcoming US Open could be her last look earlier than retirement.
When her swansong match arrived, she did not go and not using a battle. First she beat Danka Kovinic within the first spherical, earlier than demonstrating her timeless high quality to defeat quantity two seed Anett Kontaveit within the second spherical.
She virtually repeated the feat within the Round Three in opposition to Ajla Tomljanovic however was finally overwhelmed within the third and last set. With that, her illustrious tennis profession was over.
Williams and loads of others couldn’t maintain again the tears as one of many sport’s greatest-ever opponents bid farewell to the court docket amid a standing ovation.
Many important sporting figures paid tribute to Williams. One of these to have his say was one other all-time tennis nice, Roger Federer – himself a 20-time Grand Slam winner and five-time US Open champion.
The Swiss legend took to Instagram final 12 months to share a message about Williams’ retirement however used his platform to beg her to remain concerned with tennis in some capability – one thing she selected to disregard.
He mentioned: “I wanted to congratulate you for a most incredible career. You know what you’ve achieved. I know what you’ve done. You know what it is, it just beyond incredible.
“I do know it is most likely with blended emotions you are leaving this excellent sport that has given you all the pieces and extra. I want you all the very best with your loved ones. I believe again at ’99 on the US Open if you performed Martina Hingis, I stayed up late to observe you battle it out as that was the start to your unbelievable profession that you have had ever since.
“I think the future is going to be wonderful for you. I’m sure it is. Please return to tennis. The tennis community and family will always welcome you with open arms and always be happy to see you again, so please return.
“For now get pleasure from this second, benefit from the US Open, get pleasure from all the pieces that is coming this subsequent couple of weeks although it may be laborious for you. But I’m considering of you and all my respect. I want you all the easiest in your future. Take care Serena.”
Williams has no equal in the modern era, but in typical fashion she left the court by pushing all the praise onto her family and her older sister Venus, who with seven Grand Slam singles titles to her own name, is still playing today.
Sibling Serena said: “It all began with my mother and father. And they deserve all the pieces. And I would not be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thanks, Venus. She’s the one purpose that Serena Williams ever existed.”