BREAK POINT
Tearful Serena says: ’I’m done’ as the pace, power and youth of Osaka blows her away and shows that women’s tennis has a new boss
SERENA WILLIAMS left the Australian Open in tears yesterday as Naomi Osaka was hailed 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 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 and said, “I don’t know, I’m done,” before leaving the room. It was not meant to end like this for one of sport’s greatest ever athletes.
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 for a generation, she has lost the fear factor.
Her power game, which won her Majors even when she was not fully fit, is no longer enough to blow away awed opponents.
Will Williams want to keep going if she no longer believes she can win big titles?
Or will she work even harder with the grass-courts of Wimbledon remaining her
SAD FAREWELL Serena Williams left her press conference in tears after semi-final defeat
best chance of 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, 23, the 2019 Australian Open champion and reigning US Open champion, claimed facing Williams is still “intimidating” and beating her childhood idol was “surreal” after her 6-3 6-4 win. “For me, I want her to play forever,” said Osaka.
Williams’ old rival Justin Henin said: “To me, women’s tennis has a new boss. Naomi Osaka has taken it to another dimension.”
Osaka now faces American Jennifer Brady who reached her first Grand Slam final with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova.