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Serena Williams loses to Tomljanovic in U.S. Open farewell : NPR


Serena Williams delighted fans after losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday in New York.

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Serena Williams delighted fans after losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday in New York.

Frank Franklin II / AP

NEW YORK – Let Serena Williams not want to go quietly, don’t want this match, her trip to the US Open, this transcendent career, really over.

Right down to what happened, unless a change of heart, the last minutes of her quarter-century excellence on the tennis court, and her unwillingness to be told what can’t happen. out, Williams managed to make one last classic comeback, earning a final classic win, with fans standing in the full Arthur Ashe Stadium, phone cameras at the ready.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion won five match points to extend the proceedings plus three hours, but could do nothing more, and was knocked out of the US Open in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5 , 6-7 (4), 6-1 on Friday night, where her final competition is expected.

“I’ve been frustrated before. … I don’t really give up,” Williams said. “In my career, I’ve never given up. In matches, I don’t give up. Definitely won’t give up tonight.”

She turns 41 this month and recently told the world she’s ready to start “growing” out of her playboy days – she expresses distaste for the word “retirement.” — and while she’s still intentionally vague about whether this appearance at Flushing Meadows will definitely represent her final pass, everyone assumes it will.

“It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on in my life,” Williams said, tears running down her cheeks shortly after one last shot sent the ball into the net. “I’m so grateful to every single person who ever said, ‘Go away, Serena!’ in their lives.”

When asked in a court interview if she might reconsider walking away, Williams replied: “I don’t think so, but you never know.”

Moments later, highlighted on the same topic during her post-match press conference, Williams joked, “I’ve always loved Australia,” the host nation of the next Grand Slam in January.

With two wins in singles matches this week, including a win over world No. 2, Anett Kontaveit, on Wednesday, Williams took his fans on a thrilling ride that lasted for a while. minutes at the hard court tournament, where her half-dozen championships took place.

Serena Williams returns a hit to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday.

Charles Krupa / AP


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Charles Krupa / AP


Serena Williams returns a hit to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday.

Charles Krupa / AP

The first took place in 1999 in New York, when Williams was a teenager. Now she is married and a mother; Her daughter, Olympia, turned 5 years old on Thursday.

“Obviously, I’m still capable. … (But) I’m ready to be a mother, to discover a different version of Serena,” she said. “Technically, in the world, I’m still super young, so I want to have some vitality while I’m walking.”

With her 23,859 best friends again cheering wildly on Friday, Williams lost to Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old Australian tennis player who placed 46th.

Williams took the lead in every set, including the last, in which she led 1-0 before skipping the last six.

Tomljanovic is definitely a fan of Williams, having grown up watching her compete on TV.

“I feel really sorry, just because I love Serena as much as you guys do. And what she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is unbelievable,” said Tomljanovic, who has never made it. quarterfinals, said. main. “This is a surreal moment for me.”

Then, drawing laughter, Tomljanovic added: “I just thought she was going to beat me. … She’s Serena. That’s who she is: She’s the greatest of all. age.”

When asked what she plans to do on the first Saturday of her life, Williams said she’ll take a break, spend time with Olympia and then add: “I’ll definitely go to karaoke.”

Her performance with her racket Friday showed grit and had some great serves, but it wasn’t perfect.

At one point in the second set, Williams’ legs got tangled and she fell onto the court, dropping her racket. She finished with 51 non-compulsory errors, 21 more than Tomljanovic.

Williams to a 5-3 lead disappeared in the first set. She did something similar in the second, giving away the edges of 4-0 and 5-2, and required five set points to finally put it in her pocket. From 4-all in the tiebreaker, meaning Williams is three points from defeat, she hits a 117 mph ace, hits a forehand winner to limit the deal 20 strokes, then watches Tomljanovic push a long forehand.

Momentum seems to be on Williams’ side. But she can’t achieve the winning streak of never admitting defeat that she’s done so often for years.

Serena Williams waves to fans after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship Friday in New York.

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Serena Williams waves to fans after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open tennis championship Friday in New York.

John Minchillo / AP

“Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You guys were amazing today. I tried,” Williams told the audience, hands on hips before mentioning, among others, his parents and sister Venus, a person seven times. 42 year old grand champion.

“I wouldn’t be Serena without Venus. So thank you, Venus,” Williams said. “She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.”

They started playing tennis as children in Compton, California, coached by their father, Richard, who taught himself the sport after watching it on television while a player received a winner’s check. win. He is the central character in the Oscar-winning film “King Richard,” produced by his daughters.

The brothers both lost their first doubles match on Thursday night, leading to another sell-off. And on Friday, as in other younger Williams games this week, there’s no doubting which player is the public’s favourite.

When Tomljanovic took a 6-5 lead as part of a four-game run to claim the opening set, someone in her guest box stood up and applauded – and he was pretty confident.

On the other hand, people applauded when Tomljanovic made a double foul, often seen as a spoof for the tennis crowd.

They raised their voices in the midst of lengthy exchanges, and also had friction with each other.

They let out sympathetic sounds of “Awwwwww” as Williams took the shot, and jumped out of their seats when she did something they found extraordinary. A fairly frequent service break is cause for a standing ovation.

Tomljanovic draped a blue-and-white US Open scarf over his head as he changed, shielding himself from noise and distractions.

“I just really block it as much as I can. It’s come to me a few times, internally. I mean, I don’t take it personally because, I mean, I’ll be cheering for it, too. Serena, if I hadn’t Tomljanovic said, “But it’s certainly not easy.”

After Williams hit the winner with a backhand volley to lead 4-0 in the second set, her play improving with each passing moment, the reaction was amusing. Billie Jean King, a Hall of Famer with a total of 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, raised her cell phone to record the scene.

“You’re everywhere!” Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, shouted from a guest box next door that also featured power couple Ciara and Russell Wilson.

Serena Williams after hitting the net against Ajla Tomljanovic during the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday in New York.

Charles Krupa / AP


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Charles Krupa / AP


Serena Williams after hitting the net against Ajla Tomljanovic during the third round of the US Open tennis championship on Friday in New York.

Charles Krupa / AP

When Williams beat two forehands in a row to take a 5-2 lead in the second set, she screamed and leaned forward after each shot.

She couldn’t maintain that level.

Williams entered the night with 19 consecutive wins in her third singles match of the US Open, including reaching the semi-finals in at least her last 11 appearances in New York.

Speaking of all-round moments: The only other third-round loss she’s ever met at Flushing Meadows (she won 42-0 in the first and second rounds) occurred in 1998, the year Williams made her league debut. competed at the age of 16.

She would win her first major title 12 months later at the US Open. And now she’s said goodbye in that very stadium.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve been playing tennis all my life,” Williams said Friday night, after doing a swing and final wave usually reserved for wins. “It’s a bit early, but I’m also happy because, I mean, this is what I want, what I want.”



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