Serena Williams loses what is likely to be her last tournament in the 3rd round of the US Open after a big fight against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
In the last game, Serena Williams reared up again. She fended off five match points, this last chapter lasted more than 14 minutes, then a forehand into the net sealed the unique career of the best tennis player of modern times, if not of all times.
Once again, the 23-time Grand Slam winner, who will be 41 in three weeks, gave everything in her seventh match of the year. In the end, however, the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (WTA 46) prevailed after 3:05 hours 7: 5, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 1.
Afterwards, Williams did not leave the stadium, as is usual after a defeat, but was celebrated by the almost 24,000 fans in the sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium. “Thanks Daddy, thanks Mom,” she began her farewell speech, unable to hold back a few tears. “These are tears of joy,” she assured. «It was a fun trip. I’m just grateful»
With all her ambition, which had not always made her a good loser, she knew that she had gotten the most out of her last tournament despite the loss. Unbelievable: The 123rd match at the US Open was her longest. And that after she had hardly played in the last twelve months. Tomljanovic, the Wimbledon semi-finalist of the last two years, kept his nerve even after the second set was lost and an early break deficit in the third and played excellently. Williams had absolutely nothing to blame himself for. In the round before she had defeated world number 2 Anett Kontaveit in three sets.
Comeback not categorically excluded
“I played my way into the tournament in the truest sense of the word,” said the American icon. “I should have started earlier this year.” The big performance shouldn’t make her farewell any easier. “It’s hard for me to stop playing tennis,” Williams admitted before the tournament. “And I don’t like the word resignation.”
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So the question from place moderator Mary Joe Fernandez was only logical: “Is there a chance that you will come back to the decision?” A clear commitment could not be elicited from Williams. “I do not think so. But you never know.” In the normal world she is actually still young. “I want to have a little bit of life while I can still walk.”
Corona also had advantages for her. “I’ve seen what it’s like without tennis and when you don’t have to go to the gym. Tomorrow I’ll definitely do something with my daughter and probably sing karaoke,” she laughed at the media conference. If it stays with the resignation, Serena Williams can definitely be proud of her last appearance as a tennis pro. Not some had believed her capable of this.
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