Serena Williams delivered an emotional message during a post-match interview following her third-round loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanovi at the US Open.
Following the match, which Tomljanovi won 7-5, 6-7, 6-1, Williams waved to the spectators in the bleachers at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which was likely her last solo match.
During a post-game interview on the court, Williams thanked the audience and complimented her opponent.
She tried, but Ajla just played a little bit better, Williams explained before turning to face her family.
Williams started by saying thank you Daddy, she know he is watching. Richard Williams was not at the game.
When she began to appreciate her mother, Oracene Price, who was there at the match, the tennis star’s eyes welled up with “happy tears.”
She simply wants to thank everybody who is here and has been at her side for so many years. Decades, oh my god, decades, Williams said. However, it all began with her parents, and they deserve all, so she is grateful to them.
Williams concluded her heartfelt speech by thanking her elder sister.
She wouldn’t be Serena if Venus didn’t exist, she explained. So she thanked Venus too.
A speech worth of the 🐐@serenawilliams | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/0twItGF0jq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
Following the match, which lasted more than three hours, Williams took questions during a press conference, with many of them focusing on her remarkable career. Many media also questioned the issue that has been on everybody’s mind since she declared her retirement from tennis in Vogue in August: Will the U.S. Open still be her final tournament?
She has gone a long way since last year in Wimbledon,” Williams said. She is not sure if it was her last moment or not, but making it a different moment she believes is much better. It took a lot of effort to get here. Obviously, she is still competent, but it takes a lot more. She is eager to be a mother and discover a new side of Serena. And, technically, she is still very young in the world, so she wants to have a little bit of a life while she is still walking.
Williams stated that she intended on recuperating and spending time with her 4-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. (known as Olympia), whom she shares with her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
She stated that she is a pretty hands-on parent; she has been with her virtually every day of her life, with the exception of two or three days. It’s been extremely difficult on her, her work, so it’ll be good to simply do that and spend some time with her doing things that she’s never really done or had the opportunity to do. She has a fantastic future ahead of her.
Following her loss, several professional athletes showed their support for Williams by posting good words on social media.
Tiger Woods tweeted directly to Serena Williams, stating, “@serenawilliams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!!!!”
.@serenawilliams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!!!!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 3, 2022
“@serenawilliams for transcending sports for black athletes, female athletes and every athlete,” Olympian Simone Biles tweeted. “Such a delight to see; thank you for being an inspiration.”
thank you @serenawilliams for transcending sports for black athletes, female athletes and every athlete🤍
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 3, 2022
such a pleasure to watch, thanks for being an inspiration
LeBron James shared a video message on Uninterrupted’s Twitter, retweeting it on his own handle and commenting, “#SerenaWilliams.” THANK YOU SO MUCH!! “You’re so freaking DOPE!!”
James commented on Williams’ decades-long profession and longevity as a tennis athlete in her sport in the film.
He stated that what Serena has done for tennis, for women, and for the domain of sport in general is remarkable. It’s been a privilege to follow her path, to see her achieve all of her objectives, to see her shatter records, to see her be wonderful and transcendent not just on the tennis court, but also off.
#SerenaWilliams THANK YOU 🐐!! You’re so damn DOPE!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🤎 https://t.co/5tSbzz7UHw
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 3, 2022
He just wants to say thank you for being this example for so many and never putting herself out there when she didn’t feel like she is the greatest and proving to the world that every time she was out there, she was the greatest, James said of Williams’ athleticism and professionalism. It didn’t matter if she won, lost, or a draw; they all believed she was the best.
