By Lilian Nguyen
The tennis ball slams against the racket, echoing throughout the stadium, shoes squeak as grunts of fatigue are thrown endlessly about. Both sides of the court refusing to give up the volley. 2 hours and 15 minutes on the game duration clock with Williams serving. The audience follows the ball as it travels from one end of the court to the other. Finally, it falls. Set 3: 6-1 in favor of Ajla Tomljanovic. The final game of Serena Williams’s career ended not as a win, but as a loss.
It was uncertain whether Williams would be able to advance further in the US Open, many doubting whether she still had the skills deemed necessary and the overall health to stay on par with the young female players. Despite this fact, the loss was not in vain.
The third round of the Women’s US Open bedazzled everyone in attendance. The whole stadium was buzzing as excitement could literally be felt within the stadium. Many were curious as to whether Williams still had the capabilities to win this round, but as the game progressed, the crowd grew visibly more entertained with chants all in support of Williams.
And every time she swung her racket, the audience could see the faint traces of her past. The many forehands and backhands used to win countless matches and titles. Each and every stroke she made with her racket was as if it was an extension of her hand.
It was remarkable, to say the least, but the significance of the third round isn’t just because it was Williams’s last game, but rather, the legacy that she’s leaving behind. She is the definition of hard work, dedication and grit. Many of these can be seen through her long track record of 858 tour victories, 73 single titles (23 major single titles) and a long run at holding the number one spot (319 weeks).
The number of wins she gathered throughout her long professional career of 27 years is a testament to her dedication and hard work–something that is not easily attainable, especially for an African American woman in a sport that has been mainly dominated by a white majority.
And it’s just not women’s tennis that she’s impacted–the span of her influence is much further than meets the eye. Needless to say, Williams has also impacted the game of tennis for men and her reach even expands further than just the realm of tennis.
For women especially, she revolutionized the game. It’s evident that her aggressive style of play has now become the norm for the style of women’s tennis. The image of tennis for women before Williams came onto the big stage was the typical white, blonde and petite model, but because of her aggressiveness, she was a force that could not simply be ignored.
She was muscular, dominating and strong. She gave herself merit when others did not. When others refused to acknowledge her presence, she made it known that she could not be put down.
When many people bring up the term “Women’s Tennis,” Williams will pop into mind almost every single time. Whether the person knows tennis or not, her name has been echoed throughout the sports realm, making its presence known.
Although this was her last game, it unequivocally has made it known that this was quite the “perfect” ending for such a significant figure like Williams. Swing after swing, volley after volley, she gritted her teeth as she fought Tomljanovic, refusing to give in.
She was there to play just as herself. Not to wow the crowd and not to get a sense of satisfaction from the standing ovations. Rather, she was seeking to just play tennis and to make it known that careers do not end with just one game. It can always go on, as long as an impact has been made–an impact big enough to inspire others such as Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, neither of whom were scared to be themselves.
