Serena Williams

Serena Williams begins what is probably her final U.S. Open with a first-round match against Danka Kovinic. Follow along for the latest updates.

… I’m just beginning." I would have to wait until it gets light. Sometimes I wake up at like 6:00 in the morning to go practice and it was too dark. “I once heard Althea Gibson, one of her best friends told me she wanted to see another African American win a Slam before her time is up. Sept. Open 10 times and won the title six times, in 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-14.

Serena Williams will take center stage as the US Open gets underway on Monday with the 23-time Grand Slam winner preparing to bid an emotional farewell to ...

The match, I try my best without putting all the effort there on the serve,” Nadal said. She’s giving us a chance to watch her more.” Nadal admitted on Friday that he had been protecting his injury in Cincinnati but had been able to practice with intensity in the build-up to the US Open. In the men’s draw, Spanish great Rafael Nadal is chasing a fifth US Open crown and 23rd Grand Slam title in a draw that is missing Novak Djokovic. After announcing earlier this month that the countdown to her retirement had begun, Williams will step on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows for what could be her final appearance in a Grand Slam singles event. Serena Williams will take center stage as the US Open gets underway on Monday with the 23-time Grand Slam winner preparing to bid an emotional farewell to tennis.

If this is the final time that the 23-time Grand Slam champion takes the court, she plans to go out in style.

[who wrote in a Vogue essay earlier this month](https://www.si.com/tennis/2022/08/09/serena-williams-announces-plan-to-retire-from-tennis) that she planned to retire from tennis, will open play at the U.S. On the laces of the sneakers, the word “Queen” will aptly be displayed. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Open title in 1999, at the age of 17. On her feet, Williams will wear a diamond-encrusted special edition of the NikeCourt Flare 2, the brand’s latest statement tennis sneaker. The outfit, which holds hundreds of encrusted diamonds, will feature a six-layer skirt, a nod to each of Williams’s prior singles titles at Flushing Meadows.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner moves on to face No. 2 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

In Williams’s guest box, her daughter, Olympia, 4, looked on with her Aunt Isha Price in a matching outfit with white beads in her hair — a nod to the beads her mother wore in winning her first U.S. And on the plaza outside, fans without a ticket to Ashe stood shoulder to shoulder to watch on an oversize screen. I don’t know how I’m going to be a part of tennis. Every layer of her outfit, as well as her hair, was covered with crystals. Will she retire at the conclusion of this U.S. After extending a warm handshake at the net, Williams executed her customary victory twirl as she acknowledged all four sides of the towering grandstands and blew kisses. The grandstands were packed, with nearly every fan snapping photos and selfies to preserve the moment as proof of being on hand for tennis history. At the end of this season? It was hardly smooth sailing for Williams, who has long been hailed as having the greatest serve in women’s tennis. “I feel so comfortable on this court and in front of everyone here. Then, amid a standing ovation, she remained on court for the U.S. She has never lost a first-round match at the U.S.

Beyoncé has narrated a new Gatorade ad honouring tennis star Serena Williams Ahead of her first-round match in the U.S. Open. Williams, who is a 23-time ...

A movement to love you.” A love that started a movement. It’s a love that we’ll remember through the generations.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner took to the court in a figure skating-inspired black dress of her own design, complete with a train, crystals, diamonds, and gold, ...

Serena turned pro more than two dozen years ago and won the first of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles 23 years ago. Williams became the fourth woman in the Open Era to win matches as a teenager, as well as in her 20s, 30s, and 40s, joining Martina Navratilova, her sister Venus and Kimiko Date. At the end of the match (6-3, 6-3), the Arthur Ashe Stadium paid an emotional tribute to Serena Williams showing a video and the phrase "We love Serena" with a football-style mosaic while the crowd happily chanted her name.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles winner has progressed to the second round of the US Open after a straight sets win over Danka Kovinic in front of one of the ...

The beginning of the second set was tightly contested as the rallies increased in length. But in the very next game a double fault from the Montengrin pulled Williams level. But Kovinic broke back immediately in the third when Williams’ forehand faltered. I call it the evolution." When I step on the court I just want to do my best that I can do on that particular day. Williams said on-court afterwards: "I've always got to do just the best that I can.

The US Open will put on a farewell ceremony for Serena Williams as she prepares to retire from tennis. Williams will play Danka Kovinic on Arthur Ashe later ...

But even if Williams loses Monday, there will be one other opportunity to see her on the court as she is also competing in the doubles alongside her sister, Venus. ‘Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution,’ she continued. ‘I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete.

Serena Williams returns to the U.S. Open looking for one final run at a Grand Slam championship with her first match Monday night.

Williams returns to the U.S. "Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. "I think just the way she was able to (transcend) a sport that’s predominantly white … I think the only person I’ve really gone there with is my therapist. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me." It comes up, and I start to cry. Ahead of the first-round match, several sponsors paid homage to Williams and her legacy. "A love that started a movement. A movement to love exactly who you are." The theme “love means everything” showed how Williams stood for self-love in all areas of life. Beginning Monday, Williams steps onto the U.S. In 1999, Serena Williams stood center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium with an exuberant smile.

Serena Williams has extended her farewell tour at least two more days. The 23-time major singles champion overcame early nerves and a misfiring serve to win ...

Williams’ prospects in the winter of her career were in a state of limbo during her 12 months away from the tour between first-round losses at last year’s and this year’s Wimbledon. Spike Lee handled the coin toss and dozens of celebrities dotted the crowd including Martina Navratilova and Mike Tyson, who sat next to one another in the courtside president’s box. The potential final outing of Williams’ career all but obscured any other action across the grounds on day one in Queens. When her opponent netted a backhand from the baseline on match point after 1hr 40min, Williams raised her arms aloft amid deafening roars of applause. Williams, who turns 41 next month, faced constant pressure on her serve from the start, making five double-faults in her opening three service games and facing break points in each of them. [ announced her plans to retire](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/09/serena-williams-retirement-tennis-us-open) earlier this month, entered Monday night’s headline attraction ranked 605th in the world and having won one singles match in 450 days.

After 23 Grand Slam titles and 27 seasons since she became a professional tennis player, Serena Williams returned to the U.S. Open on Monday for what is ...

Open as she prepared for the birth of her daughter, Serena returned to the court later in the year and continued to dominate. The final was the last time Serena appeared in a Grand Slam final. She came into the final Grand Slam tournament of the year as the No. After losing in the ’09 semifinals, missing the tournament in ’10 and falling in the ’11 final, Williams made her way back to the championship by beating one of her now-storied rivals, Victoria Azarenka, in their first Grand Slam final meeting. The younger Williams ended up winning both in a 7–6(6), 7–6(7) victory. Williams made it back to the main event in ’08 as a No. 4 seed in the tournament after not reaching the U.S. 2 players in the world, Serena took down her sister for the third time that year in a 6–4, 6–3 win. Serena went on to win the ’03 Australian Open to finish off the first of two “Serena Slams” in her career. Williams won her first Grand Slam title (one of six she’d wind up winning at the Open) in just her second appearance at the tournament. She had captured two more Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier in the year, which helped her reach her first world No. While they faced each other in earlier rounds of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the sisters had never met in a Grand Slam final until 2001.

This may be Williams' final professional tournament, and these stars made sure they saw it in person.

Olympia wore a sparkling outfit that was reminiscent of her mother's on-court attire, and her hair was done up in beads that called back to Serena's look at the beginning of her career. Now the potential final stop on her farewell tour is filled to the brim with noteworthy fans. "I don't want it to be over, but at the same time I'm ready for what's next."

The 2022 US Open is about to begin and Serena Williams is set to make her final outing as a professional tennis player, as she let slip that this would be ...

Her Wimbledon triumph in 2007 led to a 115.09 percent increase in babies named Venus the following year. Serena's sister, Venus Williams, ranks third in terms of sports moments that inspired an increase in newborn names. Research by Betsperts has revealed that the 23-time Grand Slam winner has inspired a total of 10,620 baby names, making her the third most named after American athlete in a century.

Beyoncé narrated a Gatorade commercial titled “For Serena, With Love” to honor the legacy of Serena Williams ahead of what's expected to be the tennis ...

[Renaissance](http://www.vulture.com/2022/08/beyonce-teaser-renaissance-im-that-girl-music-video.html), she broke her hiatus to drop “Be Alive” for the King Richard biopic. To be so in love with your identity, that your very essence cannot be contained.” Earlier this month, Williams [told Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-retirement-in-her-own-words) that she was “evolving away from tennis.” That means that her Monday match will likely be the start of her last U.S. Beyoncé soundtracks the montage, praising Williams for embracing all aspects of herself, including her voice, her muscles, and her identity as a “proud Black woman, a parent, a dreamer.” It’s not the first time that Beyoncé has lent her voice to Williams; before she fed the Beyhive with [Beyoncé](http://www.vulture.com/2022/08/beyonce-renaissance-no-1-billboard-charts.html) has paid tribute to her friend and [former Lemonade dancer](http://www.vulture.com/2016/05/serena-williams-explains-her-lemonade-cameo.html) Serena Williams by narrating a new Gatorade ad that honors her lengthy career. “It’s a love that we’ll remember through the generations, a love that started a movement. Do not attempt to leave the tennis court](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_aT9pAGQo8) …

Queen Latifah narrated a seven-minute video tribute to Serena Williams before she met Montenegrin Danka Kovinic on Monday night in New York.

This made her the third most named after American athlete in a century. Research by Betsperts has revealed that the retiring 23-time Grand Slam winner has inspired a total of 10,620 baby names. Queen Latifah narrated a seven-minute video tribute to Serena Williams before she met Montenegrin Danka Kovinic on Monday night in New York.

A video tribute to Serena Williams played on night one of the US Open, where the tennis star is playing in her last matches before retiring.

Open singles wins to her [incredible fashion choices](https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/g28223047/serena-williams-style-pictures-game-day-tennis-court/) on the court. Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is Oprah Daily’s assistant editor, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. [Williams’s many successes](https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a40981007/serena-williams-us-open-2022-retirement/), from her six U.S. She actually attended a class, learning enough hard skills to give Lady O a pretty professional-grade pedicure on camera (and don’t worry—we’ve pulled it from the archives so “Thank you for changing the face of the game. Thank you for turning center court into center stage.” Her dancing shoes are, of course, the [glittering Nike x Off White sneakers](https://www.nike.com/launch/t/nike-virgil-abloh-serena-williams-queen-collection) Williams wore to the 2018 U.S. [retiring from tennis](https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a40846889/serena-williams-tennis-retirement/) soon means one thing for the 2022 U.S. Lady O and Williams have a well-documented friendship. “With love, all of us.” She’s elated, pressing her hand to her heart before clearly saying, “Oh, my God.” Williams then walks over to her family, seeing her sister Venus, and hugging “You’ve given us so much,” she says in the video. The tribute begins with a bang: a 17-year-old Williams winning her very first U.S.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is going out in style. Serena will don head-to-toe diamonds at the US Open.

On her feet, Serena will lace up a diamond-encrusted special edition of the NikeCourt Flare 2, the brand's latest statement tennis sneaker. Nike is also providing Williams with a matching jacket and tote bag for her arrival, each featuring affixed crystals meant to shine bright through the evening tennis match. Designed months ago through insights from Williams, the tennis icon will take the court in a figure skating-inspired dress.

The retiring 23-time major singles champion won another chance to engineer one last signature moment at Flushing Meadows.

Williams spoke to the audience and in the middle of her comments, she succinctly underlined why this is so meaningful. As Williams processed her victory, she struck a completely different note to her usual outlook. Every roar from the crowd initially seemed to be an unwelcome reminder of the significance of this moment, and as her forehand leaked unforced errors she initially seemed overwhelmed. Olympia, Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, and her sister, Isha, stood by the side of the court. But after her tepid start, Williams slowly found her serve and the free points it unlocked. Her nerves were naturally present from the beginning and she double faulted twice in her opening game. From her player box, Rennae Stubbs, her new consultant for one tournament only, took advantage of the new coaching rules to holler out loud positive affirmations. She entered in a costume that sparkled from head to toe in diamonds, from her hair to the bedazzled cape that trailed her onto the court. Williams walked towards her seat, she clenched both of her fists and she roared into the skies. It was audible in her little footsteps squeaking on the court during every point, the drop shots she chased down at full sprint and the grunts that punctuated every important moment. At the height of her powers, when dominance was her middle name, her mental strength was peerless. In Williams’ player box, her daughter, Olympia, emerged in the stands with beads in her braids, a full circle moment.

Serena Williams, playing in what is likely the final tennis tournament of her storied career, opened singles play with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Danka Kovinić ...

"I look forward to waking up and just being like, OK, I don't have to run to the court today," Williams said. I want to say thank you all," an emotional Snigur said. "I think when you're passionate about something and you love something so much, it's always hard to walk away," she said. "Maybe the best word to describe what I'm up to is evolution. "I'm going to stay vague because you never know." "I have never liked the word retirement.

The tennis icon enjoyed an incredible post-match celebration after extending her farewell tour with a victory Monday night.

Oprah thanked Serena for everything from “bringing the house down” to “showing us what it means to come back” to “changing the face of the game” and “inspiring the next generation.” ESPN cameras panned around the venue to capture fans in the middle and upper decks holding cards spelling out the phrase “We (Heart) Serena”. Thank you for your leadership, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, especially for women and women of color. With love, all of us.” [Serena Williams ](https://www.si.com/tennis/2022/08/30/serena-williams-memorable-us-open-matches-career)added another stop to her farewell tour Monday after defeating Danka Kovinić in straight sets to [advance to the second round of the 2022 U.S. “Most of all, thank you for sharing your journey with every single one of us.

Serena Williams has recently announced her retirement but will not go out without a bang since Nike has made a custom sports outfit that has encrusted ...

She will wear custom PE NikeCourt Flare 2 shoes with solid gold deubrés and 400 hand-set diamonds. The all-black and diamond outfit has a six-layer skirt to commemorate the six times she has won the U.S. [Shakira's alleged affair with Rafael Nadal revealed](https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/celebrities/2022/08/29/630d071c22601dd3468b45e2.html) [Serena Williams](https://www.marca.com/en/tennis/2022/08/29/630d0d8922601d4d098b45aa.html) has recently announced her retirement but will not go out without a bang since Nike has made a custom sports outfit that has encrusted diamonds, not only on her shoes but also on the attire she'll be wearing.

This may be Williams' final professional tournament, and these stars made sure they saw it in person.

Olympia wore a sparkling outfit that was reminiscent of her mother's on-court attire, and her hair was done up in beads that called back to Serena's look at the beginning of her career. Now the potential final stop on her farewell tour is filled to the brim with noteworthy fans. "I don't want it to be over, but at the same time I'm ready for what's next."

Serena Williams isn't done yet. The 40-year-old tennis great, who has said she will "evolve away" from the sport after the US Open, won her opening match at ...

More information about [cookies](/cookie) She has won 23 grand slam singles titles, which is the most in the Open era and one behind the all-time record held by Margaret Court. She has also won four Olympic gold medals and over $94.5 million in prize money.

It could have been the last singles match in Serena's 27-year career, but she is not yet ready for the last goodbye.

The legendary Billie Jean King came on court in pink and she revealed it was so, because pink is Serena’s favourite colour. The famous pirouette was on display once again as Williams booked a second round game against Anna Kontaveit. Williams held serve to love, but Kovinic took the fifth game. She fought back immediately and ended the second game with an ace. Kovinic won the third game with an ace. Kovinic took the next three games as Williams’ first serve success percentage dropped below 30%.

23 Time Grand slam winner, Serena Jameka Williams extended her US Open farewell with a dominant opening day win in front of a record 29,402 attendance- a sold- ...

As Serena Williams continues her “last dance”, fans would hope their idol can get to the final and somehow win that 24th major Grand slam title. “At this point, honestly, everything is a bonus for me, I feel, “I think every opponent is very difficult. “The crowd was crazy! At the same time, it’s like you have to be focused, you have to be laser-focused. A record 29,402 crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium willed on their idol and she responded in typical fashion. I’ve seen that over the summer. “It was loud, and I could feel it in my chest. I have always felt so comfortable here.” Serena said, “When I walked out, the reception was really overwhelming,” said Williams. Kontaveit was a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Jaqueline Adina Cristian of Romania in the first round. Serena Williams announced her retirement in an essay for glossy fashion magazine Vogue. Really?’ At the same time, I’m also thinking, ‘I still have a match to play, and I want to be able to play up to this reception.’ It was so loud.

Serena Williams signals she is not quite ready for retirement as she advances to the second round of the U.S. Open beating Danka Kovinic.

Open will indeed be her last tournament and expanded on that later in her press conference. “It’s extremely difficult still because I absolutely love being out there,” said Williams. president Bill Clinton, designer Vera Wang, director Spike Lee and others who packed into Arthur Ashe not expecting to see greatness but to celebrate it. Open as her final event. I’ll just get to enjoy and play as good as I can on the day.” “I’m really excited.

Serena Williams overcame Danka Kovinic in a straight-sets victory to continue on in the US Open; the 40-year-old American has remained vague about when she ...

"I feel grateful that I can have that impact. I never thought I would have that impact, ever. I think it's important because there's so many other things that I want to do." "It was loud and I could feel it in my chest. "I just am so grateful that they see that. That's a tough feeling to have, and to leave knowing, the more you do it, the more you can shine.

A steamy night in New York was weighted down with a ton of pre-match pomp and circumstance. But the champion pushed through and will play on.

She lost three games in a row to trail by 3-2 in the first set, uptight and short arming the ball. Williams simply hadn’t worked as hard at the game in the past couple of years as she once had, splitting her court time with mothering a 4-year-old daughter, and nurturing venture capital investments. Clearly, at some point in the past few weeks, Williams decided she wanted this match to be more than just a ceremony, and a terrible goodbye. “I have to go sweat in the sun every day when I could be at the pool with some lemonade.” She came out of the Arthur Ashe Stadium tunnel Monday night for the last big occasion of her career in a mock black evening-gown complete with cape and train — but she had on the black shoes of a boxer. “I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.” Her tennis was guttural, louder than all of it, and the appreciative roars built from the crowd. “I’m out there to win a match.” “The atmosphere was a lot,” she said later. Williams has always had a special affinity for the Open — not just for the high hard bounces of its acrylic courts, but for everything else that’s hard about it. It was all so much: the ceremonial entrance, the blazing stadium lights and the weighty tributes to the all-time great made her seem prematurely a monument rather than a person. Still, maybe she could find the old inner vibration, the competitive rage that powered her to 23 Grand Slam titles.

Tennis master Serena Williams and MLB superstar Albert Pujols just pulled off an incredible feat unlike anything ever seen before, proving they are two of ...

[prolong her final Grand Slam](https://www.marca.com/en/tennis/us-open/2022/08/30/630d7346e2704e65b58b4597.html). [Oprah, Billie Jean King, tifo included in Serena Williams celebration after US Open win](https://www.marca.com/en/tennis/us-open/2022/08/30/630d7346e2704e65b58b4597.html) [Serena Williams gave a Tennis Master Class at today's US Open](https://www.marca.com/en/tennis/us-open/2022/08/30/630d70d3ca474196138b4575.html) On August 29, 2001, Williams defeated Denisa Chladkova in the second round of the US Open, where Serena would go on to lose in the final against her older sister Venus Williams. [MLB ](https://www.marca.com/en/mlb.html?intcmp=MENUPROD&s_kw=en-mlb)superstar Albert Pujols just pulled off an incredible feat unlike anything ever seen before, proving they are two of the greatest athletes in all of sports. - US Open.

US player Serena Williams celebrates after defeating Montenegro's Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles first round ...

She added: “I think now’s the time. I will still be crazy, I’ll still be intense. A love service game gave the American a 5-3 lead and a final break of the night gave her victory. I love this game. That kind of form prompted her to reveal that she was on the brink of retirement and hinting that this US Open would be her farewell. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam title winner, said earlier this month that she was “evolving away” from tennis and that “the countdown” was on for her retirement after 27 years as a professional.

Serena Williams overcame Danka Kovinic in a straight-sets victory to continue on in the US Open; the 40-year-old American has remained vague about when she ...

"I feel grateful that I can have that impact. I never thought I would have that impact, ever. I think it's important because there's so many other things that I want to do." "It was loud and I could feel it in my chest. "I just am so grateful that they see that. That's a tough feeling to have, and to leave knowing, the more you do it, the more you can shine.

Serena wey don win 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, dey one behind Australian Margaret Court's all-time record. Di American dey also play di doubles ...

For US tennis fans, ESPN na di place to watch dis summer US Open matches. Nigerian and Ghanian tennis fans fit watch di 2022 US Open Grand Slam for Supersport. Serena Williams go play her second round match for di 2022 US Open on Wednesday.

As it turned out, it was not the final farewell for the legendary tennis superstar as she claimed a fine win, but Reem Abulleil reflects on a night the American ...

Even in the best of times, deep inside you know there are going to be moments pretty soon where it’s not going to be all shiny and beautiful and rose petals and you’re not going to be in the Garden of Eden for too long. There were some big misses from his side so that’s when I felt he was going to be very tight to finish the match, it was very tough for him, so I figured I should just hang in there and keep going,” said the Dutchman after the win. I feel like an idiot for thinking that I could win this thing, win the US Open. And it’s part of the reality that we players have to deal with.” - Tsitsipas on the reality of life on tour. 1 ranking in two weeks’ time and he admits the prospect of that played with his mind. Plus, he was just killing me on the court, he was literally killing me. “I experienced a loss to Ashleigh Barty in Melbourne 6-0 6-0. “It’s one of the few times in my career that I felt lost. The contest was basically a series of standing ovations from the 23,000 capacity crowd, all dedicated to Serena. It was a really good feeling,” said Serena in her press conference. Queen Latifah was in the stands wearing a Serena ‘GOAT’ hoodie. Not to mention the long shiny train she had attached to her dress for her walk-on.

After announcing her plans to "evolve" from tennis, many celebrities flocked to see Serena Williams' first-round match at the U.S. Open against Danka ...

Jackman and Furness sat close to one another while they watched the game. Open for the first time in 1999. And with Williams winning 6-3, 6-3 over Danka Kovinic at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, what a great game to be at. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution," she continued. Alexis Ohanian and Olympia were spotted getting into the match. [her plans to evolve away from tennis](https://www.today.com/news/sports/serena-williams-stepping-away-from-tennis-rcna42189) in a first-person essay for [Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-retirement-in-her-own-words). Laverne Cox wore a black face mask to the first round of the U.S. Anthony Anderson wore a blue navy suit to the U.S. Ruth Westheimer sat next to Clinton in the stands and appeared to be deep in conversation. Lindsey Vonn sat next to the couple for some of the evening. “I have never liked the word retirement. “I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people.

Serena Williams wore a custom Nike outfit bedecked in diamonds for her first match at her last U.S. Open.

The suit caused a kerfuffle among officials, who are apparently living decades in the past, and was banned from the French Open. In her hair, jewels were nestled and glistening throughout in a subtle crown of sorts. Dripping in diamonds from head to toe in a custom set by Nike, designed in part by the athlete herself, Williams emerged to a roaring crowd in an outfit inspired by competitive figure skating.

An average of 2.7 million people in the US tuned in to ESPN on Monday night to watch what could have been the last singles match of Serena Williams's ...

Fortunately for the network -- and tennis fans -- the 23-time Grand Slam champion prevailed in the first round at the US Open, The audience was the biggest ever for the first day of the tournament, according to ESPN. An average of 2.7 million people in the US tuned in to ESPN on Monday night to watch what could have been the last singles match of Serena Williams’s decorated tennis career.

They will face off in a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, a venue that feels like home to Williams even if it has not always been a haven.

Kontaveit and Shelby Rogers, her American partner, could also face Williams and her sister Venus in the second round of the women’s doubles tournament. For Anett, I think the key is to just go out and try to play her best tennis but also enjoy the moment. “I think her ball speed, serve and return is really up to her prime time,” Beltz said of Williams. It’s going to be a big challenge, a great challenge, but I think she wants that challenge and wants to embrace it.” This will be Kontaveit’s first match with Williams but not the first match Beltz will coach against Williams. Though Kontaveit reached the final of the Qatar Open in February, this has been a trying season. “She was not fit, but she’s very close again to get this back and is playing better in practice really well now. “I couldn’t get a ticket,” Beltz said. But it’s great to face a champion, I think. Kontaveit, a prodigy who won the Estonian women’s singles title at age 13, received instruction from her mother Ülle Milk in her formative years. “I think it’s such a great opportunity.” More novelty lies ahead on Wednesday night in the second round of the U.S.

Serena Williams kicked off her 2022 US Open run — and her farewell tournament — with a win. Here's how to watch her Round 2 matchup vs. Anett Kontaveit.

ESPN Deportes Canada TV Channel ESPN, ESPN Deportes ESPN will carry the match live starting at 7 p.m. TV Channel ESPN Williams once again plays a prime-time match as she continues her quest for her seventh US Open title. She will face world No. Williams will face tournament No. Here's everything you need to know about her next 2022 US Open matchup: Kontaveit is searching for her first career Grand Slam tournament win. In front of her is no small task: Williams will be facing world-ranked No.

There are many reasons an athlete may choose to retire from sport, such as injury, illness, fitness or family. But a combination of better training, nutrition ...

But having the [right psychological support](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/22/1243) can prevent mental health problems in athletes, and also give them the right coping mechanisms to deal with the stresses of high level competition. As we learn more about training, ageing, nutrition and supporting athletes, there’s no doubt we will only continue to see more athletes extending their careers. [polarised training](https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2015/12000/Current_Scientific_Evidence_for_a_Polarized.34.aspx), which favours moderate-intensity training. For example, sleep is now known to be extremely important for an athlete’s performance. This may require adjustments to protein intake depending on the changing demands of exercise. It’s well known that as we age we need to maintain our muscle mass differently. Other notable athletes still competing at the highest level of their sport after 40 include English cricketer James Anderson (who is 40) and American surfer Kelly Slater (who is 50). All of this leads to less But a more structured approach is now favoured by many athletes and coaches. The main benefit of this approach is that it’s Williams, who is 40, joins a host of other professional athletes who have continued to compete well beyond the There are many reasons an athlete may choose to retire from sport, such as injury, illness, fitness or family.

Serena Williams dominated tennis for the better part of two decades. Her athleticism and aggressive style changed the way the women's game is played.

You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. This information is shared with social media, sponsorship, analytics, and other vendors or service providers.

In August, she announced her retirement from tennis in the pages of Vogue magazine, what some still consider the fashion industry's bible, or at least its most ...

She allowed it to participate in her success, to feed off her greatness. Her womanliness is a matter of personal conviction. Despite her long tenure at the top of her game, Williams didn’t change the fashion economy. She went through the grueling and unnerving experience of mounting a runway show which, to be clear, is not for the cowardly. But she nudged the industry along so that it has become a bit more welcoming, a tad more inclusive, a smidgen less restrictive in its archetypes. And even now, despite all the social media posting, cultural politicking and identity parsing, it remains a substantial acknowledgment to be truly seen by a [trillion-dollar](https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/2019/2/the-economic-impact-of-the-fashion-industry) industry with tremendous cultural clout. In August, she announced her retirement from tennis in the pages of She wore cornrows and a fascinator to a British royal wedding. And not to get into the fine details of the magazine business, September remains the month devoted to fashion in all its glory. And when she won, she twirled — a bit of girlish choreography that silently admonishes a culture that too often denies Black women lightness, freedom and whimsy. To be on the cover is to signify fashion. Williams is the magazine’s September cover girl, and she stares down readers in a sea blue Balenciaga gown with a rippling train that caresses her curves like the tide washing over beach rocks.

There is no understating the impact Williams has had on the game itself. But her role in helping sports journalists reimagine the scope of their work is a ...

She [asked journalists](https://globalnews.ca/news/4437584/serena-williams-sexism/) assembled at her post-championship match news conference at the U.S. [subpar maternal care for Black women](https://www.ebony.com/serena-williams-shares-her-near-fatal-birthing-story1/). [Delia Douglas](https://grsj.arts.ubc.ca/profile/delia-douglas/) has explained, tennis has a history as being accessible only to people who can afford to play at [resorts, country clubs and tennis academies](https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934711410880). Moreover, [woven through that coverage](https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=NJjI-vMAAAAJ&citation_for_view=NJjI-vMAAAAJ:e5wmG9Sq2KIC) was an underlying suggestion that Serena Williams did not fit within the definition of respectable tennis, as reporters commented on her fashion choices or wondered if her style of play was damaging the women’s game. And the field is [Coverage of the U.S. [Sports quickly became](https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=AJSHYloAAAAJ&citation_for_view=AJSHYloAAAAJ:Y0pCki6q_DkC) a lucrative way to sell newspapers. This framing technique is not uncommon in sports journalism. That is to say, their colleagues saw them as frivolous, lacking in a serious approach. In general, Americans often imagine sports as aligned with the values they hold dear. [efforts of her father to train his daughters](https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/09/20/father-knew-best-with-her-galvanizing-win-at-the-us-open-serena-williams-proved-dad-righthe-predicted-that-she-not-older-sister-venus-would-be-the-better-playerbut-may-have-created-family-tension), [the passing of the baton from Venus to Serena](https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/02/02/slice-girls-serena-and-venus-williams-cut-up-some-top-foesand-did-some-cutting-up-themselvesin-australia), and the sisters’ [style of play](https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/03/22/serenas-at-peace-with-herself-after-back-to-back-titles-serena-williams-has-no-doubt-she-can-win-big). [play a role](https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690214538864) in contributing to forms of discrimination and alienation.

Williams has +195 odds to win at Tipico Sportsbook, which aren't in her favor, but we aren't about to bet against the GOAT in her last tournament, right?

[Williams is also chasing history](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/08/serena-williams-albert-pujols-blue-jays-eerie-stat-21-years) in this tournament, and her +4000 odds to win are as good as Kontaveit’s. That means take her odds to win a set, but also take the over on 20.5 games at -125 odds. [Tipico Sportsbook](https://media.tipico.com/C.ashx?btag=a_93b_63c_&affid=47&siteid=93&adid=63&c=), which aren’t in her favor, but we aren’t about to bet against the GOAT in her last tournament, right? That makes Williams winning a set at +155 odds my favorite bet from this match. But there’s actually a better bet to make. ET, will no doubt represent a significant challenge for Williams in her quest to go out on top with retirement pending after the tournament.

To honor her mom during her final competition before retirement, Serena Williams' daughter Olympia wore beaded braids just like her mom used to.

In fact, it's one of the main reasons she's decided to stop professionally competing. It began with the elders braiding their children, then the children would watch and learn from them. Because of the time it would take people would often take the time to socialize. Monday's historic match was honored in the best way possible, however—Serena Williams' daughter wore her mom's iconic '90s beaded braids to support her mom. We weren’t afraid to be Black in tennis. “We were not afraid to wear braids.