New Delhi: Tennis icon, Serena Williams crashed out of the tournament after she was defeated by Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic 1-2 in the third round of the US Open 2022 held at the Arthur Ashe stadium on Saturday, September 03, 2022.
The Australian beat Selena 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 in a gruelling match that lasted three hours and five minutes. The American legend’s career came to a close with this Grand Slam tournament. Williams has achieved 23 Grand Slam titles in her career that spanned over 27 years.
The opening set was an intense struggle for power as Tomljanovic and Williams were at loggerheads, plunging into the match with their court coverage and aces. However, the Australian won the first set by a close 7-5 margin.
However, it was the crucial second set that changed the course of the game. The match was pushed into a decider which lead to a clash as Williams and her opponent constantly serviced aces and made long rallies before Williams got a breakpoint and won the set 7-6 (7-4).
Williams wilted in the final set as her opponent raced into a 5-1 lead. Though Williams tried saving herself from defeat, it was too late. Her opponent won the set 6-1.
Williams saluted the crowd after the event, as Tina Turner’s anthem, Simply the Best, played in the background. On being asked about a possibility of extending her career, Williams replied, “I don’t think so, but you never know. It’s been a fun ride. It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on, I mean, in my life. I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said, Go Serena, in their life. I’m just so grateful. You got me here.”
Williams thanked her parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price, and elder sister, Venus Williams after the match. “I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you, Venus. She’s the only reason that Serena Williams ever existed,” she said on the court as Venus looked on from the stands.
Meanwhile, Tomljanovic expressed disappointment on Williams ending her career. She addressed the crowd and said, “I’m feeling really sorry just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do. What she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible. I never thought I’d have a chance to play her in her last match when I remember watching her in all those finals, so this is a surreal moment for me.”
“Even to the last point, I knew that she’s in a position to win even when she’s down 5-1. That’s just who she is and she’s the greatest of all time. Period,” Tomljanovic added.
(Avya Mathur)
