NEW YORK — Serena Williams gave an emotional speech after what was likely her final tennis match Friday night, an over-three-hour 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open.
“Thank you daddy, I know you’re watching. Thanks mom,” Williams said before starting to cry during her postmatch on-court interview with ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez. “Everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side, for so many years, decades …
“These are happy tears, I guess. I don’t know. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you Venus. She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed … It’s been a fun ride. It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on.”
Williams, 40, first mentioned her impending farewell to the sport in a Vogue essay posted during the Canadian Open last month, citing her desire to have another child. In the piece, she said she preferred the word “evolution” instead of “retirement” and acknowledged how difficult it was to come to the decision.
During her news conference after the match, Williams told reporters she was excited about spending more time with her daughter, and “explore a different version of Serena.” However, she didn’t completely close the door on a future comeback.
When Fernandez asked her if there was any chance she would reconsider walking away, she smiled. “I don’t think so, but you never know.”
A little later, pressed on the same topic at her postmatch news conference, Williams joked, “I always did love Australia,” the country that hosts the next Grand Slam tournament in January.
Since her announcement, Williams has been given a hero’s farewell from the crowds in Toronto, Cincinnati and New York. All three of her matches helped break US Open attendance records and included everyone from former President Bill Clinton to Tiger Woods. Even her doubles match with sister Venus was played on Ashe on Thursday night to a capacity crowd.
Williams’ practice session Friday drew thousands, just hoping to catch a glimpse. The fervor around Williams even resulted in ESPN bumping the Michigan State–Western Michigan college football game to ESPN2 in order to move Williams’ match to the primary channel.
Williams’ career was celebrated following her first-round match with an on-court ceremony hosted by Gayle King and featured a video narrated by Oprah Winfrey and a tribute from Billie Jean King.
“Thank you for showing us what it means to come back and for never, ever backing down,”…
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