Everything was prepared for it to be goodbye Serena Williams. Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main stage of Flushing Meadows, the home of US Open, was packed this Monday. Also every corner of the complex where the last Grand Slam of the season is played.
Those who did not get their seat to see what could be the last game of serene they came to the place to at least breathe the same air as one of the great legends of tennis history. The winner of 23 Grand Slams announced her retirement after the New York event. But we will still have to wait for that.
The American, one month after her 41st birthday, won her match and continues to write her story. Sheathed in a six-layer dress of tulle and glitter, expired by a double 6-3 to the Montenegrin Danka Kovinic80 in the world, in an hour and 40 minutes of action.
But many of the looks were taken by the aforementioned outfit. As, each of the layers of the dress had a special meaning: They remember Serena’s six wins at the US Open. It is worth remembering, the American legend kept the editions of 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
In her first final she beat the Swiss Martina Hingis. After two years she fell against her sister, her Venus, but the following year she took revenge and shouted champion again. In the 2007 edition she lost in the last instance against the Australian Samantha Stosur. But the following year she had her third success after beating Serbian Jelena Jankovic.
Then would come three consecutive crowns in which she beat the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka twice (2012 and 2013) and once the Danish Caroline Wozniacki. She also participated in two finals in which she fell to the Japanese Naomi Osaka (2018) and the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (2019). In this way, Serena managed to reach 10 finals where she obtained 6 wins and 4 losses.
The black tulle and glitter dress was clearly inspired by figure skating. It is symbolic. She also wore two personalized 24-karat gold deubrés and slippers with handcrafted diamonds that were set in ceramic.
According to the United States Tennis Association, more than 16,500 tickets were sold for the tournament the day Williams announced her retirement, more than in the previous seven days.
“Once Serena announced that she would be playing the US Open, tickets sold out in a millisecond for Monday and Tuesday nights. You can see at the scalping, prices hit $2,300 for court level in the afternoon,” Grand Slam director Stacey Allaster said.
Serena Williams shouts with her soul one of her points against Danka Kovinic. Photo: AP.
“First of all, thank you very much because I didn’t expect any of this,” Serena thanked, surprised by the tribute after the game.
“When I jumped on the track I just tried to do my best. The crowd was crazy and really helped me get it done,” Williams added after celebrating his win over Kovinic on Center Court at Flushing Meadows.
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