Long Live The Queen

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

 

It had to come to an end sometime. This was not Muhammad Ali getting pummeled in his last heavyweight fight against Larry Holmes. This was not Willie Mays getting thrown out at home plate and pleading to the umpires that he was safe. This was not Broadway Joe Namath hobbling when he dropped back in the pocket hoping to avoid getting crushed by oncoming defensive players. Serena Williams, who announced before the start of the 2022 U.S. Open that she would “evolve” from the game at the end of the tournament, went out the like the true champion she is. It all came to the end Friday night in a grueling 3+ hour match that saw her go down in three sets to #46 seeded Ajla Tomljanović from Australia 7-5, 6-7, 6-1. It was the first time the two had faced each other. 

 

The only people who thought that Serena could make a dent in the tournament was her family, friends and not uncharacteristically, herself. Williams won her first contest last Monday night against Danka Kovinic in convincing fashion 6-3, 6-3 in front of the largest crowd attending any opening night match. It earned her the right to play the # 2 seed Anett Kontaveit two nights later. Unlike her first match, Serena was tested all night. In the end, with the raucous crowd behind her, Williams was able to overcome a shaky second set 2-6 after winning the first set in a tie breaker. Williams gathered herself and came away with the third set 6-2 thus setting up her match against Tomljanovic.

 

 

 

 

The night before, Serena and big sister Venus competed in the double’s tournament for the first time since 2018. They came up short losing to the duo from the Czech Republic in two sets 7-6, 6-4. Having to play on back-to-back nights is something the 40-year-old Serena had not done in years. From the very beginning, both players showed that this match was going to be a marathon.

 

Both players broke each other on their first serve before righting themselves. Game 8 could have been the turning point for Serena as she broke Tomljanovic to go up 5-3. Ajla righted herself and broke Serena to get within one game at 5-4. She held serve to bring the match to 5 games apiece. With Serena serving in game 11, she committed 2 unforced errors and a double fault. A powerful forehand passing shot for Tomljanovic broke Serena and she closed out the set with another forehand winner. Feeling she had given the set away, fueled Serena going into the second set.

 

Serena won the first 4 games of the second set (breaking Ajla twice) with a variety of forehand and backhand passing shots sending the crowd into a frenzy. Serena would be broken in the 5^th game (4-1) and Tomljanovic came back to force a tie breaker as she fell behind by 5-2. Serena composed herself to come away with the second set but the energy she spent would take it’s toll in the third set.

 

After winning game one, Serena hit a wall and lost the next 6 games. The feisty player from Compton California refused to go away quietly in the night. In the last game she fought off 5 match points until her last shot went into the net. In the end, Serena could not overcome a whopping 51 unforced errors. 

 

A very emotional Serena waved to the standing ovation crowd before saying, “thank you so much,” she started. “You guys were amazing today. I tried. Ajla played a little bit better.” Serena then went on to praise her family. “Thank you, daddy. l know you’re watching. Thanks mom. To everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side for so many years, decades, oh my gosh, literally decades. But it all started with my parents and they deserve everything. So l’m really great full for them.” Serena then saved her best compliment for last. “I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus. So thank you Venus.”

 

A very contrite winner Tomljanovic said, “I’m feeling really sorry because l love Serena just as much as you guys do. What she has done for me and the sport of tennis is incredible. I never thought that l would have the chance to play her. I remember watching her as a kid. This is a surreal moment for me.”

 

The list of accomplishments Serena finished with on the court has been well documented. What she has meant to the sport off the court for all women, especially women of color can’t be measured.

 

Legendary tennis great and Queens native John McEnroe compared Serena Williams to the following athletes: Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Tiger Woods. Not bad company.