Serena Williams’ retirement announcement wasn’t a huge shock but now that it has been made, the tennis world is undoubtedly feeling a sense of loss. Yes, everyone knew that the time was fast approaching when Williams was going to bid the professional game goodbye,
but the reality of that news becoming official is difficult to comprehend with the 40-year-old an ever-present on tour since 1995.
With that said, the world will get one last chance to see Williams in action given that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will use the US Open as her chance to say goodbye to her millions of adoring fans across the world. As for a potential win to cap off a remarkable
career, the latest tennis odds make it a remote possibility with Williams priced at 25/1 to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam victories.
Instead, the most up-to-date tennis betting tips list a host of players ahead of Williams who are better placed to go all the way at Flushing Meadows.
In reality, it’s a bridge too far for Williams to turn back the clock this late in the day of her career and an early exit during the round of 32 in the Canadian Open suggests that the American’s time at the US Open will be fleeting.
? “I wish I could have played better but Belinda played so
well”23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams lost her first game since announcing her plans to soon retire
from tennis this week ?? pic.twitter.com/oGp27oJr8S— Sky Sports
News (@SkySportsNews) August 11,
2022
With this being the case, and when the 40-year-old inevitably loses the match point to bring the curtain down on her 27-year career, what will the world then miss most about Williams in the years to come?
The return serve?
Williams’ return serve has for decades defied the accepted logic that the server has the advantage in tennis. Indeed, Williams would blow the opposition apart by returning their serves with such disdain, that anyone sitting courtside could be forgiven for thinking that
an aircraft traveling overhead had broken the speed of sound. They were merciless and empathic and ensured that Williams would often win her matches in fewer than 50 minutes.
The relentless aces?
If Williams stunned her opponents with a sonic boom return service, then she relentlessly bullied them with her thunderous aces. This was the cornerstone of the American’s game and often, Williams would hit four aces in a game, as she did during Wimbledon 2012
against Agnieszka Radwa?ska who could only watch helplessly as the ball flew by.
Serena’s indomitable spirit?
Of course, the world will sorely miss the box office show that Williams would regularly deliver on court, but perhaps above all, it will be the absence of her indomitable spirit that is mourned the most. Essentially, this is an athlete who has rewritten the history books by
building a new narrative around what can be achieved. Indeed, this attitude of being able to take on whatever challenge that may be lying in wait has been the most inspiring feature of Williams’ career.
Serena Williams has just announced plans to retire after the U.S.
Open.? 73 Singles Titles
? 23 Grand Slam Singles titles
? 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles
? 4
Olympic Gold Medals
? $94M in prize moneyA legend ? pic.twitter.com/rt6a6RaqFl
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 9, 2022
It should be pointed out that Williams has said that she will now be “evolving away from tennis” which means that her time as an inspirational figure may not be over, but as for her extraordinary tennis career, the end has come.
