Serena Williams is about to leave the US Open. At Arthur Ashe Stadium, all eyes will once again be on the 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner from the USA.
It will be the emotional highlight of this year’s US Open, but Serena Williams fears the moment when the time to say goodbye has irrevocably come.
“There is no joy in this subject for me, I feel great pain“, said the American: “It’s the hardest thing I can imagine. I hate it. I hate being at a crossroads.“
Serena Williams before saying goodbye to the US Open
For what was probably her last appearance, the 40-year-old chose the US Open, where she won the first of a total of 23 Grand Slam titles in 1999. The home crowd will give her an unforgettable farewell, perhaps in her opening match on Tuesday night (08/30/2022, 1:00 a.m. CEST) against Thank you Kovinic from Montenegro.
Night Sessionalmost 24,000 spectators in the Arthur Ashe Stadium – all eyes are on Williams. Just like later in doubles with sister Venusthere was one for that wildcard from the organizer.
$7,000 for a ticket on the black market
After Serena’s resignation announcement, which she stylishly published in the fashion magazine “Vogue” said there had been a rush for tickets. Regular $35 tickets for the opening night were reportedly being offered on the black market for up to $7,000. Chris Widmaierspokesman for the American Tennis Association, compared the Williams effect to a “tsunami”.
Williams wants the fans on their 21st US Open not disappoint, even if the mother of a four-year-old daughter has long since passed her peak in sport. She doesn’t know if she can win the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, she said, “but I will try it“.
It would be sensational. Your last big triumph was five and a half years ago. “Seen from the outside, it’s about time“said national coach Barbara Rittner of the German Press Agency: “You wish her that she doesn’t get a pack, as was the case last time.“
Osaka on Serena Williams: “The strongest force in this sport””
But even if: The respect in the tennis circus is Williams safe for all time. “Honestly, she’s the strongest force in this sport. That shouldn’t make Federer or Nadal smaller at all. I just think she’s the greatest thing there will ever be in this sport“said one of her successors, the Japanese Naomi Osaka.
Williams have her sport”changed so much She introduced the sport to people who had never heard of tennis. I’m a product of what she did.”
For Rafael Nadal she is “a legend” and the world number one Iga Swiatek admired Williams‘ Triple burden as a professional player, mother and businesswoman: “I would be happy if I could do that too.“
Inspiration especially for the African American population
With her successes and self-confident demeanor, she also inspired the black population in the USA. US tennis hope Coco Gauff revealed: “Growing up I never thought I was different because the world number one was someone who looked like me.“Will Williams really be able to leave tennis? Shortly before the start of the tournament, she flirted with a possible return.”You never know. I’ve learned in my career never to say never“, she said.