New York Shows Mad Love For Serena
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Coco Cruises
By Andrew Rosario
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
It had all of the excitement of a U.S. Open Woman’s Final. When Serena Williams came out to center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday night sold out crowd serenaded her with standing ovation that felt it would last forever. Last week, Williams announced she will be leaving the game of tennis but chose not to use the word “retirement”. Instead she said she “is revolving from tennis.”
Williams faced Danka Kovinic from Montenegro in front of a packed house of over 20,000. Even the grounds on the outside of the stadium was standing room only. On hand to cheer her on was Spike Lee, Anthony Anderson, Bill Clinton, Queen Latina, Gayle King, Billie Jean King, Hugh Jackman, Anna Wintour and Mayor Eric Adams.
Perhaps the crowd fueled Serena as she jumped out to a 2-0 first set lead. Kovinic righted herself taking advantge of poor Williams serves and unforced errors to go up 3-2. Game 6 saw Serena break tying the match at 3. Serena then coasted the last 3 games watching Danika commit a series of her own unforced errors as well as double faults.
The second set was similar to the first as Kovinic would go away easy. Serena made all the shots when it counted and after facing as she did not face a break point after facing 4 in the opening set. Williams took out Kovinic 6-3 moving on to the second round Wednesday against #2 ranked Annett Kontaviet. What will make that match even more difficult is the Williams sisters will play doubles earlier that day.
Afterwards, Williams talked about the love she felt from the crowd. “It was really overwhelming. It was so loud l could feel it in my chest it was a feeling l will never forget.
The history of the Williams sisters and King go back when they 6 and 7 years old in April of 1988. King immediately knew they were special. One of the things that stood out to King was that they were very focused on the court. Said King of Serena, “thank you for your leadership and commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion. Especially for women of color.”
The crowds will continue to come out in full force every time Serena steps on the court. The energy they infuse could take her deep into the tournament.
It’s hard to imagine that the only time Coco Gauff stepped on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium was her first time Monday afternoon. Gaul entered the tournament as the #12 seed and faced Leolia Jeanjean from France. Behind a dominant serve in which she connected on 91% of her first serve points, Gauff cruised 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the second round where she will face Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse. After dropping the first set to Australia’s Daria Gavrilova, Ruse rallied and won the next 2 sets 6-2, 6-4. Gaul claims she was nervous stepping on the court but you could not tell by her performance. Saying afterwards, “l was really nervous, l was feeling the pressure.
Like the Williams sisters, Gauff (ranked #1 woman’s double) will play Wednesday along with partner Jessica Pegula facing Leylah Fernandez and Daria Gavrilova
