Tennis legend Martina Navratilova and youngster Coco Gauff made history as the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam final. Tossed by Hollywood director Spike Lee. Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah and indeed Billie Jean King came with words of respect.
First Published Aug 30, 2022, 4:41 PM IST
Arthur Ashe Stadium is packed with spectators. The exact number is 29,402 people. Observers say that the number of people coming to watch the evening match has never been so high at the US Open. There were a number of VIPs in the audience. Former American President Bill Clinton, boxing star Mike Tyson, Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Anthony Anderson, Hugh Jackman, world famous fashion designer Vera Wang, Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour and many others.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova and youngster Coco Gauff made history as the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam final. Tossed by Hollywood director Spike Lee. Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah and indeed Billie Jean King came with words of respect. Everyone came with one mind. To cheer, to cheer, a historical figure coming to court after an interval. A time-honoured tribute to Serena Williams, the world’s best tennis player of all time.
Serena arrived at the court wearing a special designer outfit donated by Nike. The audience applauded when the court jeweler arrived in the diamond-encrusted dress. Coming to the court with Kanye West’s Diamond. (Diamonds from Sierra Leone album Late Registration) There was one more special guest in the VIP box that added sweetness to everything. Serena is a favorite among the packed stadium crowd. No one else. Daughter Olympia. Olympia, who was wearing a frock similar to her mother’s dress, was capturing the arrival of her mother with a smile on the camera. The hair style was also unique. White pearls were strung in the braided hair. It was Serena’s hair style years ago when she won her first US Open title in 1999.
Sports drink brand Gatorade also offered greetings to Serena in a different way. The G and S in the logo have been changed. The change can be seen on the brand’s social media accounts. Serena will have a special edition towel and water bottle at the tournament. In the first match, Serena defeated Danka Kovinic from Montenegro 6-3, 6-3, showing her untiring fighting spirit and excellence even at the age of 40. Not because there is no more childhood. Serena’s performance in the first match was true to her own words that she is retiring to focus on other things that she considers important in life. Regardless of the outcome of the next matches, only the figures of excellence carved in the history books of tennis are enough for Serena.
27 years long tennis career. 23 Grand Slam titles. Earlier this month, Serena signaled her departure from a storied sporting career. Serena’s decision was to retire from the court that saw her first Grand Slam victory. On that day, he defeated his sister Venus, who is a guide and role model in life and sports. Bill Clinton, who congratulated her on the phone from the White House on that day, now came to greet her in person as a tribute to Serena’s unique contribution to the world of American sports. Who is the GOAT of tennis, Serena Williams, the longest reigning world number one player (319 weeks) and the only player in the modern tennis world with 23 Grand Slam titles (Nadal surpassed Federer with 22 Grand Slam titles)?
Last Updated Aug 30, 2022, 4:41 PM IST
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