They were born only 49 days apart, though in vastly different corners of the world.
Consider the catalogues of Serena Williams and Roger Federer as a portrait of contrasting forces. Stylistically different, but in terms of sheer substance, they are two of the most decorated players of the Open Era, almost without rivals.
It feels appropriate they chose to depart from professional tennis within a span of five weeks. Williams’ retirement news arrived in a Vogue magazine essay on Aug. 9, the day after Federer turned 41. His announcement came Thursday, 11 days before her 41st birthday.
‘The end of an era’: WTA stars from Swiatek to Serena react to Roger Federer’s retirement
“This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me,” Federer wrote. “But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.”
Williams earlier had expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst,” she wrote. “But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words. You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies. I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis.
“And I’m going to miss you.”
While parting is bittersweet — at best — it might be wise to adopt Williams’ mindset and see this as an inevitable evolution. Certainly, these two will be always be in and around tennis. Going forward, their love of the game will keep them engaged.
But what of the sport itself? At times like these, there are always questions about how the void will be filled. When Stefanie Graf retired in 1999, winning at Roland Garros and reaching the final at Wimbledon, coincidentally or not, that was the year Williams won her first major. When Pete Sampras walked away after the 2002 US Open, he had already lost to Federer at Wimbledon the year before — one year before the Swiss champion would produce his first major win in the same venue.
As it turns out, just as those void questions are resurfacing, your freshly minted US Open champions might be…