Arguably the best profession within the historical past of tennis has seemingly come to an finish. Serena Williams is out of the 2022 US Open after a 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 loss to Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday evening.
It was a good match all through, highlighted by large momentum swings and unbelievable shotmaking by each gamers. However what shall be remembered greater than something that occurred within the precise match would be the lasting picture of what very-well would be the ultimate time Williams took the court docket on the US Open.
The 40-year-old, 23-time Grand Slam champion’s plan to maneuver away from tennis has been nicely documented since she made the announcement in early August that her taking part in days had been coming to an in depth as she seems to be ahead to rising her household and enterprise ventures.
Whereas there shall be a lifetime to develop and nurture her dwelling life as she transitions away from the court docket, this evening was about her lifetime spent on it. Over the past twenty years, Williams has repeatedly stated she will get each participant’s greatest shot, and that is what she bought in her third-round loss to Tomljanovic, whose grit and psychological toughness had been paying homage to the icon throughout the web.
Down 5-3 within the first set after which 5-2 within the second, Tomljanovic saved strain on Williams’ forehand which was shaky tonight and accounted for a lot of of her 50 unforced errors to battle again and win the primary set and power a second-set tie break, earlier than closing the deal within the third.
However it wasn’t straightforward. Williams saved 5 match factors down 5-1 within the third set, earlier than her ultimate shot went into the web to finish the match. As wonderful because the match was, with large momentum swings and each gamers amassing video games in large chunks all through the match, the pictures that shall be remembered would be the lasting sights of Serena Williams — extensively considered the best participant of all time — thanking everybody in her post-match interview at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It has been a enjoyable trip,” Williams stated after three hours and 4 minutes on the court docket — the longest US Open match of her profession. “It has been essentially the most unbelievable trip and journey I’ve ever been on in my life. I am simply so grateful to each single individual that’s ever stated ‘Go Serena’ of their life. I am simply so grateful since you bought me right here.”
Throughout the web, Tomljanovic had the tall order of making an attempt to advance additional than she ever has on the US Open, however on the expense of one in every of her heroes within the sport.
“I am feeling actually sorry simply because I like Serena simply as a lot as you guys do,” Tomljanovic stated. “What she’s performed for me, for the game of tennis is simply unbelievable. I by no means thought I would have an opportunity to play her in her final match after I was a child watching her in all these finals. It is a surreal second for me.”
