September 6, 2022
Arguably the greatest of all time, tennis player Serena Williams announced her retirement after competing in the US Open.
Who knew two black girls from Compton would take the tennis world by storm, a stage not set or intended to accommodate them. Richard Williams did. The father foresaw their future and with sheer force and determination put and kept the wheels in motion to reach their destiny. Proclaiming Venus would be the first but Serena would be the best, Mr. Williams cemented those words into reality.
Actor Will Smith played the role of Richard in the documentary 'King Richard' which follows the family on the rough road to greatness from their modest home in Compton, California to West Palm Beach, Florida where they were trained by Rick Macci at his tennis academy. The film perfectly captured the father's resilience and unrelenting effort, the mother's keen focus on Serena's special gifts and the naysayers of no consequence that did little to block the path set before them.
The sisters' appearance on such a prominent platform flipped the impossible on its head, that players that looked like them could compete at that level. The representation they broadcasted on television sets all over the world made far-off and distant dreams more tangible to the touch.
Stars and supporters were in attendance to watch the historic send off game including her mother, sister Venus, husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia who wore the trademark beaded hairstyle worn by the Williams sisters when they were introduced to the world.
The athlete's entrance was bittersweet, witnessing the greatest walking to her last competition but grateful to have been alive to witness such greatness. She was met with the all of the love and applause that someone of her caliber deserves. A deafening roar of cheers encapsulated the stadium upon her entrance.
The cheers didn't die down as the crowd continued their unwavering support throughout the competition.
With the retirement of Serena Williams we cannot forget the sister that kicked down the door of tennis, Venus, and Serena made sure we didn't. During her interview after her third round loss to Ajla Tomljanović, she thanked both her parents and Venus for weathering the gauntlet and breaking down the barriers facilitating her success.
Social media has been flooded with tributes, praising Serena for her astounding accomplishments over the past 25 years, over two decades of a staggering 858 wins. The list is long and impressive for the tennis titan:
23 Grand Slams
73 Singles Titles
14 Doubles Titles (with Venus)
4 Olympic Gold Medals (3 with Venus)
Barack Obama tweeted 'Congratulations, Serena, for your heart, skill, intelligence, dedication, and grace. Few athletes have inspired more people both in and beyond their sport!'
Michelle Obama congratulated Serena 'on an amazing career.'
ESPN released a touching tribute of 'the greatest to every do it' chronocling the star's journey through her many wins.
Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce also lent their voices as narrators of tributes from both ESPN and Gatorde, respectively, thanking the icon for contributions to the world and the game.
Her off the court accomplishments are just as great. She recently rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange where she investment company Serena Ventures. The company has been intentional in its efforts to empower under represented groups, including black, latino and women founders, and was successful in raising $111 million in funds.
Instagram @nyse
She also launched a clothing company S by Serena, a "modern fashion brand that celebrates the smart, sexy, sophisticated, strong, and stylish qualities of each person.", along with a jewelry line, Serena Williams Jewelry, that retails pieces with ethically sourced diamonds.
The tennis star was recently featured on the cover of Time Magazine as and discussed leaving tennis and plans for the future. " Serena admitted that her decision to retire was largely influenced by her 5 year-old daughter and the possibly of expanding her family. “It comes to a point where women sometimes have to make different choices than men, if they want to raise a family,” she said, but confirms "There is no anger...I’m ready for the transition.”
Time Magazine, Photo: Paola Kudacki
While tennis will no longer see Serena on the court her presence will live on through the players she's immensely inspired. Naomi Osaka, who has already won four grand slams, has been vocal about how influential and instrumental the icon was in propelling her own career. Serena has also provided undeniable support to the young star on and off the court including her decision to withdraw from the French Open in 2021 and refusing to do interviews for mental heath reasons
While the public labeled her a "princess", all Serena wanted to do was give her 'a hug' as she was all too familiar with the pressures one endures when you are considered the best and expected to perform as such. Serena said in an interview "The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it's like. Like I said, I've been in those positions."
With all of her accomplishments we can't wait to see what the second act brings for the GOAT.
Cover Image: Instagram @serenawilliams
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