Even after she lost what could very well be her last singles match to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation which brought tears to her eyes.
Even before that moment, the tributes have already been pouring in from everywhere with many active and retired athletes referring to Williams as The Greatest of All Time, not the least her most recent opponent Tomljanovic who said,
âThatâs just who she is and shes the greatest of all time. Period.â
This sentiment has been echoed across the years not just after she announced her retirement in the September 2022 issue of Vogue.
Williams has been recognized as one of the best tennis players, regardless of gender.
Now that she has decided to âevolve awayâ from the sport, let us quickly look back at what exactly it is that makes her so great.
Tribute Speeches to Serena Williams:
A Prodigy
It is no secret that Serena and her sister Venus Williams have been playing tennis since they were very young. Their father and first coach, Richard Williams, believed in his daughters so much that he dedicated a big chunk of his life to their training.
As soon as she turned professional, the American hit the ground running and won her first Grand Slam title, the 1999 US Open, a few weeks shy of her 11th birthday.
First Grand Slam Win:
A Force to Reckon With
Like many teen winners, Serena struggled a bit after that first win and would not achieve another Grand Slam success until 2002 but since then, she has been a force to reckon with.
She dominated the sport of tennis and between her maiden win to her last one in 2017, Williams holds a record of 23 Grand Slam wins under her belt. She may have won more had she not been hampered by a knee injury back in 2003 that required surgery and downtime.
Like any great athlete, Williams holds nothing back when playing. She is even ruthless against her sister, whom she has beaten in the 2017 Australian Open, while 8 weeks pregnant with her daughter Olympia.
Williams VS Williams 2017 Australian Open:
Nonetheless, Williams is unstoppable on the court. She has 858 tour victories to her name. She has 73 singles titles, and she has spent a total of 319 weeks in the top spot. Williams is also an Olympic gold medalist.
She and her sister Venus are also a formidable doubles pairing. They have won three Olympic Gold medals and 14 grand slam titles.
Evolving Away
In the September 2022 issue of US Vogue, Williams announced that she was Evolving Away from tennis and is choosing to focus on other interests and her family. In her Instagram post, she said:
There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis.
But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals, and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. Iâm gonna relish these next few weeks.
In Vogue, she wrote:
Maybe the best word to describe what Im up to is evolution. Im here to tell you that Im evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.
Legacy More than Just Tennis
She transcends the sport and although she has an undeniably huge impact on the girls who look up to her for inspiration for their tennis careers Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Sloane Stephens to name a few, Williams has become a cultural icon. A living legend, if you will.
There have been many great tennis players who have come before Williams and many more who will come after her. Like other great athletes who have come synonymous with the sports they represent Michael Jordan for Basketball and Tiger Woods with Golf.
Serena will be what comes to mind when we think of womenâs tennis and maybe even tennis in general.
Her record of 23 Grand Slam wins is yet unmatched in the open era. She also held that record for years before any of the male top contenders started to inch close.
She is also unapologetic and appears to be firmly in charge of her narrative. Williams has built a name for herself as an unstoppable player who is unafraid of showing off her femininity.
She is also a fashion icon, often making headlines as much for what she wore on the court as she does her triumphs. She plays a role in her outfits as well and has designed more than a handful of them including what she wore to the 2022 US Open. It had six layers to the skirt, to symbolize the six times she has won at Flushing Queens.
She has even been featured in a My Life in Looks by Vogue.
Coming Full Circle
Serena Williams Says Goodbye at US Open:
She won her first Grand Slam title in the US Open back in 1999 and it only feels fitting that she would close off a glorious career back where it all began.
Following her third-round match at the 2022 US Open, Williams thanked the people in her life who have helped make her career what it is. She said:
âThank you, daddy, I know youâre watching. Thanks, mom.â
âEveryone thatâs here, thatâs been on my side, for so many years, decades âŠâ
âThese are happy tears, I guess. I donât know. And I wouldnât be Serena if there wasnât Venus, so thank you, Venus. Sheâs the only reason Serena Williams ever existed ⊠Itâs been a fun ride. Itâs been the most incredible ride and the journey Iâve ever been on.â
Post Loss US Open Interview:
As she steps away from the sport that has definer her for decades, it will be interesting to see whats next for the Greatest Player that tennis has ever seen.