![]() Williams’ farewell to tennis in New York has become the hottest ticket in town. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Serena Williams returns a shot to Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on Augin Mason, Ohio. MORE: US Open champ crushes Serena Williams as retirement looms While a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title is likely to remain beyond her next week, Williams has nevertheless produced a collection of records that in all probability will never be broken. Her win in the 1999 singles final would light the touchpaper for the most dominant career of any female player in the Open era, her 23 Grand Slam titles second only to Margaret Court’s 24. While 1999 marked her first singles Slam, by then Williams had already won mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open in 1998. That breakthrough victory confirmed what had become apparent ever since her professional debut four years earlier: that Williams, alongside sister Venus, was a rising force in women’s tennis. That announcement set the stage for what will be an emotional farewell for Williams, who won the first of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles as a 17-year-old at the 1999 US Open, beating Martina Hingis in the final. ![]() I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just (as) exciting Serena. “That time is always hard when you love something so much. “There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction,” Williams wrote. The 40-year-old sporting icon ended the guessing game surrounding her future earlier this month by revealing that the “countdown” to her retirement had started, with her final Grand Slam appearance coming at next week’s US Open in New York. ![]() ![]() (Photo by Don Emmert / AFP) Source: AFPĪfter a glittering 27-year professional career in which she became one of the greatest players of all time, Serena Williams is preparing to bid farewell to tennis at the major where it all began. Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the trophy after his win over Daniil Medvedev of Russia during the men's Singles Finals match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 8, 2019. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Nadal has become accustomed to overcoming setbacks, winning a 14th French Open in June despite playing the whole tournament with painkilling injections in his foot.Īn added incentive for Nadal is the opportunity to reclaim the world number one spot from defending champion Daniil Medvedev, the man he defeated in the 2019 final. There have been unforgettable moments there, and I’m going to try my very best every single day to be ready for that.” “It’s a very special place for me, and I enjoy it. “I need to move forward and just start to think about the energy that the crowd give me in New York,” said Nadal, who has already captured two of the season’s three Slams at the Australian and French Opens. Since an abdomen injury forced him to hand Nick Kyrgios a walkover into the Wimbledon final, Nadal has played just once - a first-up loss to Borna Coric in Cincinnati. The Spaniard has had to sit out the US Open four times in his career and there are once again fresh doubts over his physical ability to survive a gruelling two weeks at Flushing Meadows. Nineteen years after making his debut, the 36-year-old Nadal drags his injury-prone body into a tournament he won in 2010, 2013, 20, the year of his last appearance.
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