Serena Willaims is, without a doubt, the greatest of all time- what we like to call G.O.A.T- on the tennis court. The 40-year-old athlete has been winning and leading the court game most of the time in her 24-year-long career. Unfortunately for some of us who love to watch her play, the “queen of the court” has rested her over a two-decade-long career.
Serena Williams became an African-American icon in a white-dominated sport by winning 23 Grand Slam titles and smashing past milestones with a determination as strong as the raw energy that defines her shot-making magic.
All hail the ‘queen’!
Several of Serena Williams’ well-known fans and fellow athletes have come out to praise the tennis champion in the wake of her loss at the US Open on Friday.
Oprah Winfrey, a multibillionaire and TV host, posted a throwback photo of Williams on her Twitter page with the following message: “25 years. Champion. Shero. Legend forever! @serenawilliams #USOpen.”
Tiger Woods, the golf legend who was photographed praising Serena during her games, also tweeted on Saturday, “@serenawilliams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!”
The iconic basketball player, LeBron James praised the 23-time grand slam winner in a video posted on his Twitter page.
“You’re a GOAT. What you’ve done for the sport of tennis, what you’ve done for women and what you’ve done for the category of sport is unprecedented, period,” he said.
He added, “It was an honour to watch your journey, to watch you conquer all the goals you ever set, to see you break records, to see you just be amazing on the tennis court and also off it.”
“Her incredible career made its mark on tennis history. And yet, her greatest contributions may be yet to come. Thank you, @serenawilliams. Your journey continues. #serena #USOpen,” former world number 1 in Tennis, Bille Jean King, also tweeted.
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, wrote on Twitter, “Congrats on an amazing career, @SerenaWilliams!
“How lucky were we to be able to watch a young girl from Compton grow up to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. I’m proud of you, my friend—and I can’t wait to see the lives you continue to transform with your talents.”
Recall that Serena Williams was eliminated from the US Open on Friday by Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, likely suffering a defeat that would end her career.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion and six-time New York champion fell in the third round 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1.
In August, Williams announced on Instagram that “the countdown has begun” to her retirement from the sport.
“There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun.
“I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals, and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks,” she wrote.