As she walked out of the courtroom at the Road Lever Arena on Thursday, Serena Williams paused for a moment as the recently returned people stood and applauded. She raised her left hand to wave before moving her hand over his heart, as if to inform him that the mutual is emotional. She paused for a moment, soaking in the ovation like a Melbourne-summer sun and fluttering again before disappearing into the tunnel.
Her run at the 2021 Australian Open ended in a straight set in the semifinals by her successor, Naomi Osaka. And then, the questions started … on television, on social media and maybe even from your own bed: was the match all over?
Less than an hour later, as he sat at the computer in front of dozens of members and others around the world, Williams was asked if the court-to-court moment was any kind of goodbye.
“I don’t know,” he said. “If I ever say goodbye I won’t tell anyone.”
He laughed, but he quickly faded. As the next reporter began to ask an innocent question surrounding Williams’ reckless amount of incredible mistakes in the match, she tried to fight the tears by drinking water, hanging down tears, or blindfolding her eyes with her viewer. His voice broke as he began to answer.
“I don’t know,” she said, suddenly standing up, “I’m done.”
Leaving behind more questions than answers, Williams went back.
While Williams himself has given no concrete sign of retirement, the 39-year-old’s time in the game is inevitably nearing an end. Whether this was the last time Williams was seen at the Australian Open or not, if he has been playing for many more years, the game is better because of him, of which Osaka gave himself a share.
It felt like everything was coming together for Williams this fortnight. She was arguably playing her best tennis since returning from maternity leave in 2018 and had recovered from an Achilles tendon injury that forced her to withdraw from the French Open, which was delayed by an epidemic in September.
Williams defeated powerful Aryan Sabalenka in three sets in the fourth round in Melbourne. He dropped World No. 2 Simona Halep, who beat Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final in the quarterfinals.
Winning seven titles in Melbourne – including her most recent pregnancy with daughter Olympia in 2017 – the city and the tournament have a special place in the heart of Williams, and it seemed like the right place to make history. The winner of 23 major titles, she has come a long way from breaking Margaret Court’s long-running record since returning to the year 2001 and has come very close – reaching four Grand Slam finals and two semifinals during that period.
Williams had to recapture Osaka for this latest opportunity. The 23-year-old won his previous big meeting in the final of his famous 2018 US Open, and it was inseparable that Williams had a second chance with such a line against Olsa. In the battle of Greatest All F All Time now against Greatest Right F Right Now, Williams wanted to prove that she is still both.
But outside of Oresa, Serena-Ed Serena, Williams made all the way better for long-dominated tennis. Osaka had six aces (Williams had three) and an 85% first-serve win rate, she won all four break points and recorded 20 blistering winners. After two nerve-wracking games, where she struggled with her ball tussles, Osaka never opened the door for Williams again.
Osaka advanced to its fourth major final, where it will face American Jennifer Brady and try to improve to a full-0-0 while playing on the biggest stage. With his first win at the 2018 US Open, Osaka – representing Japan but growing up and based in the United States – has earned the rank and become one of the most visible athletes in the world. Like many, she has her American counterpart Williams to thank.
Due to the success of Williams and his sister Venus, Osaka’s father now somewhat famously introduced him and his sister to tennis. He followed the blueprint set by Richard Williams and placed a racket in the hands of his two young daughters.
Osaka wrote in a column for The Telegraph last month, “My youthful aspirations are very much like Serena and Venus.” “Without those Triblazers, Naomi would be, there would be no cocoa [Gauff], No Sloane [Stephens], Not Madison [Keys]. Everything we did was inspired by him, and my sister and I would one day dream of playing him in a Grand Slam final. “
The success of the Williams Sisters encouraged many to play a game they did not expect. 2020 U.S. In the open, there were a record 12 black women in the singles draw, about 10% field. Teenager Robin Montgomery was in the group, and did not hesitate to discuss the impact on the sisters’ lives when speaking to ESPN before the tournament.
He said, “Of course, Serena and Venus have been my role models since I was little.” My goal is to have the opportunity to inspire younger generations in the same way that Serena and Venus have inspired my father and many others. . “
Throughout her faith career, Serena Williams has been more than just a tennis player. She is a single-name culture icon, a prominent businessman, a frequent magazine cover story star and a powerful advocate of racial and gender equality. Osaka has followed the path paved by Williams while searching for his voice and identity.
Williams’ legacy is more than trophies and records and aces, although he has been impressive. One should hardly be surprised when we see him discussing gender equality during the Osaka postmatch news conference, as he did on Thursday; She is not afraid to take the stand, as she has seen it done many times before.
Osaka will join her trophy case on Saturday as she hopes to win her fourth career Grand Slam title. If he plans to continue playing, Williams will have to wait for his second chance to win. Williams later took to Instagram on Thursday, in which he posted a picture of himself wearing his signature Nike T-shirt and standing with his hands clasped to the Australian fans.
“I am very honored to be able to play in front of you,” he said in part of his post. “Your support – your enthusiasm, I wish I could do better for you today. I am forever in debt and thankful to each and every one of you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I adore you. “
Many people will no doubt speculate about this post and Thursday’s events, but when it comes time to walk, the decision will be Williams’ alone. She deserves more than that. But when asked about the end of Williams’ legendary career, Osaka seemed to speak for all Williams fans.
He said, “It’s kind of sad when you say like that because, for me, I want her to play forever.” “He’s the youngest child in me.”
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