Given her impeccable standards, it probably wasn’t the fairytale ending she was hoping for, but the reaction of those inside the Arthur Ashe stadium showed just how important Williams was to the game. It proved even more.
During the week of the US Open, players and fans were proud to tell stories about how her life impacted them, and showed their appreciation through banners in the stands and social media messages. It has been.
The 40-year-old caps the final chapter of her incredible career with a staggering 39 Grand Slam titles (23 singles, 14 doubles and 2 mixed doubles).
But Williams has achieved one singles Grand Slam singles title, falling short of the all-time record held by Australia’s Margaret Court, but it’s more than she agrees, she said. say.
“I should have, could, could. I didn’t show up the way I should or could have. But I showed up 23 times. And that’s fine. In fact, it’s extraordinary.”
Alongside her sister Venus, Serena Williams left an indelible mark on the sport by inspiring younger generations to pick up a racket.
The pair inspired Hollywood, especially the movie King Richard. The movie “King Richard” showed the dedication and focus required to produce two of the best players that the entire Williams family would step onto the court.
Their father, Richard Williams, was the focal point of that film and, as a coach, diligently trained them in a rundown public courthouse in Compton, Los Angeles in the 1990s. It was the guidance that built the faith and inspired people from all walks of life to believe.
“I think she [Williams’] Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has spoken out about Serena Williams’ influence ahead of the US Open.
“She changed the sport a lot. She introduced the sport to people who had never heard of it.
“I think it’s a product of what she’s done. Without Serena, Venus and her whole family, I wouldn’t be here. I’m so grateful to her.”
Williams;’ made her professional debut in 1995 when she was just 14 when she lost to Annie Miller.
She progressed quickly, won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1999 US Open, and didn’t have to wait long to pick up her silverware.
It was a trophy she won five more times as she toured the world and entertained thousands of fans.
In total, she has won seven singles titles at Wimbledon, three at the French Open and seven at the Australian Open, making her arguably the biggest name in sports around the world.
She has often seen off generations of tennis players with unstoppable power and mental fortitude. At her peak, she was unplayable. Only she could beat herself.
Some sports moguls pay tribute to Williams and her accomplishments at the US Open. Following Friday’s loss, four-time NBA champion LeBron James posted a video on Twitter praising Williams’ achievement.
“Wow, where do we start?” he said. “First of all, congratulations on your incredible career. You are the GOAT. What you have done for the sport of tennis, what you have done for women, and what you What have you been up to?” Sports, is unprecedented in the period category.
“It’s been an honor to watch your journey, to see you achieve all the goals you’ve set, to see you break records, to be amazingly transcendent on and off the tennis court. is.
“I could literally sit here talking about your journey, watching you from afar, talking about our relationship right now for an hour, but not letting you get too bored with what you already know.” I don’t want to. Thank you for inspiring so many people.”
Tiger Woods, a 15-time golf major winner, tweeted, “You are literally the best on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring us all to pursue our dreams.”
career in resilience
But when her career came to an end, the always-on Grand Slam favorite had to take on a new role she wasn’t quite used to.
Since returning from hiatus after the birth of his daughter, Williams is no longer the irrepressible player he once was.
The mind was there, of course, and there were enough glimpses of magic to make us believe a 24th Grand Slam was possible, but ultimately the challenge was too great.
But in reality, it’s worth noting that Williams was still playing on the court after what turned out to be a life-threatening birth experience.
Her daughter Olympia was born by emergency caesarean section, and while the operation went well, Williams suffered complications afterward.
“It started with a pulmonary embolism, a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs are blocked by blood clots,” she wrote to CNN.
“I live in fear of this situation because of my history with this problem. So when I was short of breath, I didn’t wait a second to alert the nurses.
“This caused many health complications, but luckily I survived. First, the violent coughing I endured as a result of the embolism caused my cesarean section wound to open. rice field.
“When I returned to the operation, the doctors found a large hematoma in my abdomen, a swelling of clotted blood.
“When I finally went home to my family, I had to spend my first six weeks as a mother in bed.”
Acquisition of business venture
This is a story of resilience that is the epitome of her career.
Williams has always found ways to stay strong, battle multiple injuries, and keep playing while suffering from postpartum depression.
That’s why she’ll be remembered for more than her tennis achievements and sponsorship deals.
Throughout his life, Williams has sacrificed everything for his profession. Ultimately, that’s what made her one of the greatest and most memorable athletes in her world. However, she is now ready to “evolve” away from the sport.
According to Reuters, Williams has earned more than $94 million in prize money, but with an estimated $340 million in endorsements, her endorsement deals aren’t likely to dry up.
With her retirement, she has more time to pursue her business ventures and hopes to give back through her role as a charity ambassador.
Williams will undoubtedly have a successful post-tennis career, but the sport will suffer if she doesn’t go on tour.
“It sucks to say goodbye to the world’s worst, but please know that I appreciate you more than words can express,” she wrote in an article for Vogue.
“You have led me to so many victories and so many trophies. I miss that version of me, that girl who used to play tennis. And I miss you.”
Source: www.cnn.com
