Tributes to tennis ace Serena as she bows out of game
TENNIS legend Serena Williams has retired, as tributes poured in last night declaring her the greatest female player of all time.
Williams, 40, who announced her plan to quit last month, saying she wants to have another child, tearfully waved goodbye to the crowds at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night after losing to the 46th-ranked player in the world, Ajla Tomljanovic.
The sporting star, who won an astounding 39 grand slam titles – 23 singles titles, 14 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles – ended her career one singles grand slam short of the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court.
Williams thanked her parents and sister Venus, saying: ‘It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on in my life, and I’m just so grateful to every single person that has ever said “Go Serena!” in my life, because yeah, you got me here!’
Serena, who turned professional in 1995 when she was 14, won her first US Open in 1999. She went on to win Wimbledon seven times.
Supermodel Bella Hadid was in the audience for her final game, while tributes poured in from celebrities including golfer Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey. Former First Lady Michelle Obama called her ‘one of the greatest athletes of all time’.
Williams, who has a daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohaniam Jr, five, plans to have another child with her husband, billionaire Alexis Ohanian, 39.