Serena Williams, the winner of a mind-boggling 23 singles major titles, brought the curtains down on an illustrious career after she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1 in a third-round match in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, at the US Open on Saturday.
Williams, 73-time winner on the WTA Tour who also won a record-equalling six US Open titles, was given a standing ovation as she exited the court one last time with some of the most magical numbers of all time.
Several top players including American Coco Gauff and Japan’s Naomi Osaka, among other, paid tributes to the 40-year-old champion who is only fifth on the all-time list of winners on the WTA Tour.
In terms of the WTA Tour titles, Martina Navratilova leads the all-time list with 167, followed by Chris Evert (157), Steffi Graf (107), Margaret Court (92) and Williams, with 73.
Beyond the cold numbers, though, Serena is credited with transforming the women’s game.
“I don’t think I’ve even taken a moment to realise any impact,” Serena was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com in response to tributes from Gauff, Osaka and several others. “I understand it, but I don’t really meditate or think about it. I’ll have plenty of time soon to do all that.”
“I never thought I would have that impact, ever. I was just a girl trying to play tennis in a time where I could develop this impact and be a voice. It was just so authentic because I do what I do, and I just do it authentically me.”
In a professional career spanning 27 years, Serena produced eight different reigns at No.1 — from 2002-17 — for a total of 319 weeks, third all time. She is the most recent player to simultaneously hold all four Grand Slam crowns — twice, from 2002-03 and 2014-15.
She is 367-56 in Grand Slams and 108-15 at the US Open and won more than USD94 million in prize money, more than any woman in tennis history.
Serena also won four Olympic gold medals, including three in doubles.