NEW YORK — After one last week of her signature magic, Serena Williams‘ legendary playing career came to an end Friday night with a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the US Open in front of nearly 24,000 fans.
The match capped the conclusion of a whirlwind 3½ weeks since Williams revealed her future plans, filled with countless tributes and record-setting crowds. From her announcement in Vogue until her final, emotional news conference, here’s what went on in front of and away from the cameras.
Aug. 9: Toronto
8:41 a.m.: The morning after playing in just her second match of the season, a first-round clash in Toronto, Williams announced her impending retirement — or “evolution” — in a first-person essay in Vogue. She indicated the US Open would be her final tournament.
“There is no happiness in this topic for me,” Williams wrote. “I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it.
“I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”
In Vogue’s September issue, @serenawilliams prepares to say farewell to tennis on her own terms and in her own words. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine,” she says. “I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next” https://t.co/6Zr0UXVTH1 pic.twitter.com/YtGtcc18a9
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) August 9, 2022
Aug. 10: Toronto
8:41 p.m.: A day after making her reveal, Williams lost in her second-round match in Toronto to Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-4. After the match she was given an on-court ceremony. She was emotional as she addressed the crowd.
“It’s been a pretty interesting 24 hours,” Williams said. “I’m terrible at goodbyes but goodbye, Toronto!”
A standing ovation for the legend @serenawilliams in her final match in Canada 👏#NBO22 pic.twitter.com/TfhBXvCuJB
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 11, 2022
Aug. 14: Cincinnati
10:53 p.m.: Williams’ first-round match against reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu had been announced for Monday, the opening day of play. But when the draw was revealed for the Western & Southern Open, the match was absent when the order of play was released late Sunday night — much to the outrage of many fans who had bought tickets and arranged travel specifically to watch their clash.
A tournament spokesperson…
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