The Serena effect faded tonight at Arthur Ashe Stadium but the legend will live on forever. The American tennis player fell in the third round against the Australian tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic in three epic sets 7-5, 6-7(4) and 6-1.
Of course, Serena Williams said goodbye to the center court of the US Open fighting for every point until the end in a match that lasted just over three hours. On this occasion, her favorite ‘weapon’: a powerful elite service with which her fruitful career has stood out and which has earned her 23 Grand Slam titles, was not enough for her. She ran into a rival who was patient and waited from behind to define crucial points.
Serena Williams, who turns 41 this month, had had a dream week so far. In public she flocked to Queens to see her play in her last big tournament as a professional tennis player. In social networks, there was even talk of the “cruelty” of the fans for ignoring the opponents and concentrating all the energy on Serena.
But it was to be expected that the ‘queen of center court’ would receive all the honours.
The youngest of the Williams clan has made it clear that she wants to evolve (which has been interpreted as retirement) although this week she said: “I don’t know how but to be linked to tennis in some way.”
Last night at the end of the game she broke down in tears while the entire stadium was standing up to send her off through the front door, because although the final score indicates defeat, she no longer had anything to lose.
The ‘queen of the track’ thanked her family, especially her mother and her mother Venus who were present at the stadium.
Her rival tonight also had words of admiration for the 6-time Us Open winner. “Serena is the greatest tennis player of all time. I knew that even if she was down on the scoreboard she was going to peel every point,” said the Australian.
Meanwhile, the rest of the competition continues its course. In the women’s draw there are still familiar faces such as the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka who this Saturday will try to advance to the quarterfinals against the Czech Petra Kvitova.
We will also see in action the Swiss Belinda Bencic who faces the Czech Karolina Pliskova.
As for the representatives of the United States, the 19th seed, Danielle Collins, plays on Saturday night at the Arthur Ashe against the French Alizé Cornet.
Collins was the one who dispatched former champion Naomi Osaka in the first round (7-6, 6-3).
“After losing three times before to Naomi, I’ve learned something and just went out there to give my best,” said the Florida tennis player.
In the second round she beat the Spanish Cristina Cristina Bucsa 6-2, 7-5.
Source-eldiariony.com