Williams was eradicated from the U.S. Open on Friday in what seems to be her last match of professional tennis following a historic profession.
Serena Williams’ presumed last match captured the world’s consideration as quite a few public figures took to social media late Friday to honor the game-changing tennis star.
Extensively thought of to be among the many biggest athletes to have ever competed within the sport, Williams was knocked out of the 2022 U.S. Open after dropping 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 within the third spherical to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York Metropolis.
Williams, who turns 41 this month, had beforehand mentioned she was “evolving” away from enjoying skilled tennis following her storied profession that included 23 Grand Slam titles, second solely to the 24 earned by Margaret Court docket. After dropping Friday, Williams was in tears and mentioned it was unlikely she would rethink her plan to stroll away from the sport.
She additionally praised her members of the family together with older sister and fellow tennis celebrity Venus Williams, telling the group after the match, “She’s the one motive that Serena Williams ever existed.” The siblings had been the topics of final 12 months’s Warner Bros. characteristic King Richard, which depicted the gamers’ youthful years and earned Will Smith an Oscar for his position as their father, Richard Williams.
Among the many celebrities taking to Twitter after the match to have fun Serena Williams was Samuel L. Jackson, who praised her effort towards Tomljanovic. “You’re going out scrapping, identical to you got here in,” the actor wrote.
Additionally weighing in was Michelle Obama, who tweeted, partly, “How fortunate had been we to have the ability to watch a younger woman from Compton develop as much as develop into one of many biggest athletes of all time. I’m pleased with you, my pal — and I can’t wait to see the lives you proceed to remodel together with your skills.”
Beneath are numerous different messages from Hollywood and sports activities notables alike, together with John Legend, LeBron James, Jennifer Hudson, Shonda Rhimes, Tiger Woods and Billie Jean King.