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September 3 (Reuters) – The likely end of Serena Williams’ tennis career has left the game staring at the dawn of the end of the sport’s golden era, a dreaded prospect that has long been on the horizon.
The American, who turns 41 this month, gave an emotional farewell to the US Open with a third-round loss to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday in what may have been the last singles match of her glittering career. Continue reading
Though Williams left the door slightly open on an unlikely comeback, her apparent departure — not unexpected given Williams’ struggles in form and injury over the past 12 months — would have sent shivers down the spines of tennis administrators and organizers.
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“She’s a box-office hit,” summed up Greg Rusedski, former British number one, on Sky Sports after Williams informed the world of her decision in a Vogue article last month. Continue reading
“She has also sported women’s tennis with her sister Venus for the last two decades. You obviously had other great players around you, but she gets your non-tennis fan into the sport.
“If you know absolutely nothing about tennis, you know the name Serena Williams. She is an icon and we are losing an icon of our sport and she will be really, really missed.”
But it will not only be a loss for women’s tennis. Williams could be the first in a string of aging greats to retire in the near future.
Like Williams, the triumvirate of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic has dominated tennis for the past two decades, revolutionizing the sport, attracting new and old fans and a long line of sponsors.
They all continue to lure fans to the stands, cellphones and TV screens after two decades on tour, while their commercial appeal continues to captivate brands and advertisers.
Injuries to Williams, Federer and Nadal in recent years have repeatedly raised the question of their retirement. Fans and pundits have wondered how the sport would cope with the prospect of losing its most viable athletes.
Tennis – US Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 2, 2022 Serena Williams of the U.S. comes on court before her third round match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic REUTERS/Mike Segar
Federer, 41, has had multiple knee surgeries over the past two years and has not played a competitive game since his demise in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The 20-time Major winner has only signed on to play the Laver Cup this month and his home tournament in Basel in October. It remains unclear if the father of four would be ready to face the rigors of the Tour again.
At 36, Nadal is a little younger but a chronic foot problem forced the Spaniard to consider retiring in 2021 and again this year after winning a 22nd major men’s title at the French Open and receiving numbing injections before every match in Paris had played.
Radiofrequency treatment eased the pain in his foot and allowed him to play Wimbledon, but the left-hander doesn’t know if the injury will flare up again.
The 35-year-old Djokovic is the youngest of the bunch, arguably the strongest and looks like the best choice to fly the flag of the older generation of tennis.
The Serb won his 21st major title at Wimbledon last month and has made it clear he has no lack of motivation to chase more silver.
While the so-called Big Three of men’s football continue to fend off the younger generation when it comes to big wins, Williams’ tennis career has been less productive in recent years.
Her last Grand Slam triumph came in 2017 and she has not won a WTA title since winning the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier in the 2020 season.
Despite all of this, Williams remained the biggest attraction in women’s tennis whenever she stepped onto the court.
“She’s an inspiration to many people around the world. She gave a lot to tennis, so we’re lucky to have such a great ambassador like Serena for so long,” Nadal said after Williams’ defeat on Friday.
“She deserves to choose what suits her at this stage in her life.”
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Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Edited by Christian Radnedge and William Mallard
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