SLAM DREAM SLIPS AWAY AGAIN
IT ENDS IN TEARS FOR SERENA:
SERENA WILLIAMS left the Australian Open in tears yesterday as Naomi Osaka was hailed as the “new boss” of women’s tennis.
And the American superstar, who turns 40 in September, cast doubt on whether she will ever return to play Down Under.
Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam event in Melbourne while eight weeks pregnant in 2017.
But she has now failed to equal Margaret Court’s record in 11 Majors since returning from maternity leave – including losing four finals – and Osaka needed only
75 minutes to end her latest, error-strewn challenge in this semi-final.
The seven-time champion put her hand on her heart and waved to the crowd during a standing ovation as she left the Rod Laver Arena.
In her brief post-match press conference, Williams was asked if she had been saying goodbye.
“I don’t know,” she smiled. “If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
In response to the next question about her 24 unforced errors, she teared up, above, and said, “I don’t know, I’m done” before leaving the room. It was not meant to end like this for one of the greatest ever athletes – male or female – in sport. She later posted a cryptic message on social media telling Australian fans: “I am forever in debt and grateful to each and every single one of you.”
Now after the emotion, Williams will have to take a cold-hearted look at where she goes from here and decide if she wants to continue her pursuit of history.
After dominating women’s tennis for a generation, she has lost the fear factor against a new wave of young stars, led by the 23-year-old Osaka.
Her power game, which won Majors even when she was not fully fit, is no longer enough to blow away awed opponents.
And this latest setback came after she had trained relentlessly in the off-season to be in her best condition in years.
Will Williams, who has a three-year daughter, want to keep going if she believes she can no longer win the big titles?
Or will she work even harder, with the grass courts of Wimbledon remaining her best chance to win that elusive next Major?
Eurosport analyst Mats Wilander said: “Does she have to reinvent herself, a little bit like Roger Federer did in 2017?
“Where is the biggest room for improvement with Serena? It is her movement.”
Osaka, the 2019 Australian Open champion and reigning US Open champion, claimed facing Williams is still “intimidating” and beating her childhood idol “surreal” after her 6-3, 6-4 win.
“For me, I want her to play forever, said Osaka. “That’s the little kid in me.”
But Williams’ old rival Justin Henin said: “I think Serena was better 10 years ago.
“The game also has changed, it’s getting faster and faster and all the players know they can beat Serena.
“To me, women’s tennis has a new boss. Naomi Osaka has taken it to another dimension. Clearly she will be the favourite in the final.”