Rarely does a player – famous or ordinary – leave the field completely on his own terms. Serena Williams didn’t want her career to end Friday night at Flushing Meadows in New York. But, apart from a change of heart in the coming months, it ended.
Williams’ denouement at the age of 40 came at the strong hands of a player almost 12 years her junior, Ajla Tomljanovic. One of the greatest tennis players ever lost 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 in the third round of the US Open. It was Williams’ first appearance in the majors since she was 16 years old — back in 1998. This was the first time she was drawn in the tournament.
One year later, he would begin his rise to world tennis dominance and win the US Open, the first of his 23 majors — a record in tennis’ Open Era.
Williams leaves the second game in the majors to Margaret Court’s 24. In the eyes of many who know and love the game, Williams has the status quo of a GOAT that has been piled on the ice of his 23-year run. Considering her 73 titles, 36 majors, four Olympic gold medals and redefining what was possible on the tennis court, there is little doubt Williams is considered a legendary, physical, athletic, graceful and inspiring player.
Apart from the trophies and records, the main thing you can say about Serena Williams is that she played tennis like no one before her, and at the same time her style cannot be repeated. Like all legends, he has his own greatness.
And yet, he entered this US Open with doubts. His expectations were lower than anything he had played with since he was 16 years old. He said it himself this week. This was a farewell tour with no promise of more than one game.
It wasn’t going to end with one game.
He became the center of the sports world once again this week, owning his legend and building on it, although there is no depth in the 21st and what appears to be the last US Open of his life. On Friday night in Flushing Meadows, Williams put on the kind of show that will live on as the final image of the virtuoso’s career. Even if the outcome was not on his side, even if he didn’t really explain how he got out, he made sure to carve an unforgettable conclusion in the last, famous chapter.
There is much to be gained and gained in loss. With millions around the world watching and the massive crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium hanging on to him every round, Williams’ performance was as inspiring as it has ever been. On top of the two amazing heels (but really not all that amazing) who win in the first two races, we all started to wonder, if not try to guess… something could be in the making?
Not really. But something memorable happened anyway. The way Williams made his closing performance was so touching that it added to his legend. No, he didn’t go out on his own. He left with everything he had. It took Tomljanovic three hours and five minutes to sweep Williams out of the 142nd US Open. It was the longest US Open match of Williams’ career. Fitting.
The final game of his career had eight deuces, six points and took 14 minutes to complete. Down 5-1, Williams was able to drive Tomljanovic on her heels several times, tricking her into a winner at the net and surprising many again.
The 29-year-old couldn’t crack, though. The game of tennis is such that the end of the game can depend on one swing of the racket. The idea goes one way, it’s game over. It goes somewhere, there is no telling how long the war will last. Williams and Tomljanovic made those 14 minutes feel like an hour.
Then, suddenly, it ended. The heartbreaking sound of Williams’ shot being caught in the net was like a fist to the floor. Over. In fact. Fifty-three minutes into the final quarter of his career, William’s run was made. A unique American sports star runs a marathon, which ends with some would-be-could-have-beens.
Williams (ranked 605th officially heading into the US Open) led Tomljanovic (ranked 46th) 5-3 in the first round. At the time it looked like Williams could make short work of Friday night and create a four-game Sunday that would definitely build to one of the biggest sports stories of 2022. Instead, Tomljanovic was able to match big serves with big returns. . Over the course of three hours, he scored 12 points and scored 12 points, often to the chagrin of Williams, who has become accustomed in his 20-plus years of management to seeing opponents send shots.
Friday night was the first time the two played together. Their one meeting should go down as one of the most memorable games of Williams’ career. Williams was not going to listen. In a rare moment of honesty from a pro athlete, Tomljanovic said afterward that he didn’t even expect to win.
“What he has done for me, for tennis, is amazing,” Tomljanovic said. “I never thought I’d have the chance to play him in his last game when I was young watching him in all those finals. This is a surreal moment for me.”
For all the praise Tomljanovic had for Williams after the match, she was untouchable all night. His groundstrokes are similar to Williams’ authority. He grew stronger, more confident as the New York night wore on. Williams, a day removed from playing the final two games of her career alongside big sister Venus, was overcoming visible fatigue with her signature passion, strong voice and passion-like direction.
This was just Williams’ seventh game of the year.
Tomljanovic flipped the first-set script, coming from 5-3 down to win 7-5. Williams came out and won the first game of the second set. Then, everything started to click. He was reading Tomljanovic’s corners. Serving was strong, reliable. The vintage, powerful two-handed backhand was landing for Williams. He was 4-0. He was going up to the third level.
Until Tomljanovic destroyed it again. Down 5-2, there was a marathon game with nine goals and 24 points that lasted more than 15 minutes. Tomljanovic won, cutting it to 5-3. Then it was 5-5. They would go to a tiebreak, and Williams refused to be swept. It was at this point that the game took an unforgettable turn. On her way to winning the second set of the tournament, Williams hit serves 117 miles per hour, the hardest of the night.
More than two hours in the game.
From a competitive standpoint, it was everything tennis fans could hope for. Williams had already been pushed but was untouchable. He would not give this one. The game was so good, so gripping, so engrossed in the game, Williams could not be blamed for predicting his decision to retire in the following months.
Don’t bank on it, though. This was not the desired result, but it was as satisfactory as any loss could be. Now comes the next step. In addition to being a fashion mogul, Williams is first and foremost a doting and devoted mother. In his post-game press conference, he estimated that he had spent all but two or three days of his daughter Alexis’ life with him. Big family plans await.
Endings in sports can carry a bittersweet element to them, but in hearing Williams give an emotional speech, he showed why now is the time and who made him the champion he will always be remembered for.
“Thank you, dad, I know you’re watching,” Williams said into the mic to his father during a courtside interview after the game.
His voice began to crack. A few tears showed.
“Everything started with my parents and they deserve everything, so I thank them a lot,” he said. “Oh my God. These are happy tears, I think, I don’t know. And I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t for Venus. So, thank you, Venus. … She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.”
The older sister, who seemed to be stoic, also broke down. The cameras caught him wiping tears from under the brim of his visor.
The greatest story of American tennis found its conclusion on Friday night in Queens. Few things in sports carry the emotional power and irresistible pull of an aging athlete delving into their competitive spirit and recapturing what made them great in the first place. For the last three matches this week, for the first time in years, we got one last chance to see what made Serena Williams great.
Forty years and fighting his guts out until the last push of the racket.
I couldn’t have it any other way.
31: Serena and Venus have faced each other 31 times in individual matches. Serena holds the advantage with a 19-12 record. Nine of those matches took place in Grand Slam finals. Serena also has the edge with a 7-2 record.
What channel is the US Open 2022?
How did Coco Gauff vs. Madison Keys at US Open 2022. No. 12 Madison Keys will meet 20 seed Madison on Friday, Sep. 2. ESPN will broadcast the game live starting at 4:30 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of the Andy Murray-Matteo Berrettini match.
What port does us Open on serena? Friday’s US Open matches air on ESPN from noon to 6 p.m. ET, and 6-7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Prime-time broadcasts air on ESPN2 from 7-11 p.m. The third round will continue on Saturday airing on ESPN from 11 a. To see also : This 32-year-old high school dropout turned his video game side hustle into a $105 million startup.m.-7 p.m. (11 a.m.-11 p.m. on ESPN). Evening hours are from 7-11 p.m. ET. Click here for the full TV schedule.
What channel is the US Open Tennis 2022?
| Kick off | End | Net |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00a | end of play | ESPN, ESPN3 |
| Afternoon | 5:00 p.m | ESPN Dismisses |
| Afternoon | 6:00 p.m | ESPN |
| 7:00 p.m | end of play | ESPN, ESPN Fired |
Where can I watch US Open golf 2022?
The 2022 US Open golf TV schedule on NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock. See the article : Video game giants had a miserable second quarter as the pandemic gaming boom hit a wall.
Who is the greatest tennis players of all time?
| Rank | Player | He wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 982 |
| 2 | Roger Federer | 1,251 |
| 3 | Rafael Nadal | 1,028 |
| 4 | Rod Laver | 1,689 |
Who is the No 1 tennis player? Roger Federer holds the record for 237 consecutive weeks at No. Read also : NBC Sports Washington premieres Off the Ice: Best of Capitals 2021-22.
Who’s the greatest tennis player of all time?
Margaret Court (Australia) – 24 major titles Crowned by the professional tennis player of all time, Court has collected 24 Grand Slam titles over her career—more than any other player. Add in 19 doubles and 19 mixed doubles, and Court has a record 62 major titles to his name.
Who is the greatest woman tennis player of all time?
Serena Williams’ status as the best ever is rock solid. I know that Margaret Court won 24 majors and that Williams only won 23 (Wimbledon and the Australian, French and United States opens are the four major tennis tournaments).
Who has won Wimbledon 7 times?
In 2017, the winner of the Gentlemen’s Singles received a prize of £2,220,000. In the Amateur Era, William Renshaw (1881-1886, 1889) holds the record for most titles in Gentlemen’s Singles, winning Wimbledon seven times.
Who has won Wimbledon the most? The famous Swiss tennis player, Roger Federer tops the list of Wimbledon tennis championships won by a professional male tennis player from 1968 to 2022. Federer lifted his record eighth Wimbledon title in 2017 and remains among the top tennis players in the ATP Rankings. throughout his life.
Who has won Wimbledon the most times female?
Since then, various female tennis players have won Wimbledon titles. As of 2021, the player with the most wins was Martina Navratilova with nine titles. Steffi Graf and Serena Williams are both tied for second in the ranking with seven wins each.
Who has won Wimbledon more than twice?
Jimmy Connors, always a great competitor, won four different Grand Slam tournaments on grass including two at Wimbledon in 1974 and 1982.
