As she walks off the track at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, Serena Williams pauses for a moment as the recently returned crowd stands and loads her with applause. She lifts her left arm to wave before moving her hand over her heart, as if they want to know that the feeling is reciprocal. She pauses for a moment, soaked with applause like the Melbourne summer sunshine and waving again before disappearing into the tunnel.
Her run at the Australian Open in 2021 was over, and ended in the semi-finals in live sets by her heiress Naomi Osaka. And then the questions started … on television, social media and maybe even from your own bank: was the match all over?
Less than an hour later, while sitting in front of dozens of members of the media in person and others worldwide, Williams was asked if the moment in court was a farewell.
“I do not know,” she said at her news conference. “If I ever say goodbye, I’m not going to tell anyone.”
She smiles, but it fades quickly. When the next reporter started asking a harmless question about the uncharacteristic amount of unforced errors Williams had in the game, she tried to get tears back by drinking water, looking down, or protecting her eyes with her sight. Her voice cracked as she began to answer.
“I do not know,” she said, before suddenly getting up and saying, “I’m done.”
Williams was gone again, leaving more questions than answers.
While Williams himself gave no concrete indication of an impending retirement, the 39-year-old’s time in the sport is inevitably coming to an end. And whether it was the last time we saw Williams at the Australian Open, or if she’s been playing for a few more years, the sport is better because of her, which Osaka herself partially proves.
It seemed like everything was coming together for Williams this week. She has undoubtedly played her best tennis since returning from maternity leave in 2018, and was injury-free on her way to the tournament, having recovered from a lingering Achilles tendon injury that forced her to take part in the French Open in September. delayed.
Williams held off powerful Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the fourth round in Melbourne. She has the world no. 2, Simona Halep, who defeated Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final, was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
After winning seven titles in Melbourne – including her most recent in 2017 while pregnant with her daughter, Olympia, the city and the tournament have a special place in Williams’ heart, and it seemed like the perfect place to make history. She is the winner of 23 major titles, and she has not been one of Margaret Court’s long-standing record since her return in 2018, reaching four Grand Slam finals and two semi-finals in such a long time.
For this latest occasion, Williams had to get past Osaka again. The 23-year-old won their previous major event in their famous U.S. Open final in 2018, and it was first-class for Williams to have another chance against Osaka with so much going on. In a battle of the Greatest of all time against the Greatest of now, Williams wanted to prove that she was still both.
But Osaka, Serena-ed Serena, is simply better in all the ways Williams has dominated tennis for so long. Osaka had six aces (compared to Williams’ three) and scored a first-place finish of 85%, scoring all four of her break points and scoring 20 quick wins. After a nervous opening two games, where she struggled to throw her ball, Osaka never opened the door for Williams again.
Osaka advanced to its fourth major final, where it will take on American Jennifer Brady and want to improve to a perfect 4-0 when she plays on the biggest stage. Since her first victory at the 2018 US Open, Osaka – which represents Japan but is based in the United States – has risen in the ranks and become one of the most visible athletes in the world. Like so many, she has her American counterpart Williams to thank for it.
Osaka’s father has now started her and her sister somewhat famously in tennis due to the success of Williams and her sister Venus. He follows the blueprint set by Richard Williams and places rockets in the hands of his two young daughters.
“My young aspirations owe so much to Serena and Venus,” Osaka wrote in a column for The Telegraph last month. Without those pioneers, there would be no Naomi, no Coco [Gauff], no Sloane [Stephens], no Madison [Keys]. Everything we did was inspired by them, and my sister and I would dream of playing in a Grand Slam final one day. ‘
The success of the Williams sisters motivated many to pursue a sport they would not otherwise have considered. At the US Open in 2020, there was a record of 12 black women, nearly 10% of the field, in singles. Teenager Robin Montgomery was among the group, and she did not hesitate about the impact the sisters had on her life when she spoke to ESPN before the tournament.
“Of course, Serena and Venus were my role models from a young age,” she said. “My goal is to have the chance to inspire the younger generations like Serena and Venus could inspire my generation and so many other generations.”
Throughout her career, Serena Williams has been so much more than just a tennis player. She is a pop culture icon with the name, celebrated businesswoman, regular star in the magazine cover and powerful advocate of racial and gender equality. Osaka followed the path that Williams paved as she found her own voice and identity.
Williams’ legacy is about much more than trophies and plates and bait, though it was impressive. It should hardly be surprising if we talk about gender equality during a news conference in Osaka over time; she is not afraid to take a stand, for she has seen that it has been done countless times.
Osaka will want to expand her trophy business on Saturday as she chooses her fourth Grand Slam title in her career. Williams will have to wait for her next chance to win another if she plans to continue playing. Williams later went on Instagram and posted a photo of herself wearing one of her distinctive Nike T-shirts and with her arms outstretched next to a note to Australian fans.
“I’m so honored to be able to play in front of you all,” part of her report said. “Your support – your cheers, I just wish I could do better for you today. I’m in debt forever and grateful for each and every one of you. I love you. I love you. I love you “I love you.”
Many will no doubt speculate about the report and Thursday’s events, but it will be up to Williams alone to decide when the time comes to walk away. She deserves it more than. But when asked about the eventual end to Williams ‘legendary career, Osaka apparently spoke for all of Williams’ fans.
“It’s a little sad when you say that, because to me I want her to play forever,” she said. “This is the little baby in me.”