On September 3, Serena Williams played what may have been her last professional tennis game. In the third round of the US Open, the American lost to 29-year-old Ayla Tomlyanovic. After the defeat, the legendary athlete said goodbye to the fans and delivered a historical monologue in front of the camera.

Touching footage of the 40-year-old tennis player instantly blew up the Internet. Summing up her magnificent career, Serena could not restrain her emotions.

She thanked her family and fans in tears.

Last run for the title

The American athlete began her career back in 1995. Many current WTA professional tennis players weren’t even born at that time. The last US Open winner, Emma Radukanu, for example, was not born until 2002, when Williams already had several Grand Slam titles.

Serena Williams / Photo: © Simon M Bruty / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In total, Serena won 73 tournaments during her career. In total, the youngest of the Williams sisters spent more than 300 weeks at the top of the WTA rankings – at some point it seemed that the American would rule in women’s tennis forever. However, by the age of 40, the titled athlete had practically ceased to compete.

The US Open, with a high degree of probability, was supposed to be the last tournament for Serena – the athlete said this in an interview with Vogue magazine shortly before the start of the tournament. In the same conversation, Williams admitted that she never achieved her cherished goal in tennis, as she was unable to repeat the achievement of Margaret Court: the American won 23 Grand Slam titles, and the legendary Australian won 24.

At the US Open, the American entered singles and doubles, having received a wild card from the organizers. The partner of the younger sister in this tournament was the older sister – Venus Williams. The last time they played together was in 2018. Unfortunately, the sister duo did not last more than one match at the US Open.

Photo: © Jamie Squire / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

But in singles, a lot was expected from Serena. A middle-aged Williams could hardly claim the title, but she could well have reached the highest stages of the tournament, especially since this performance was perhaps her last chance to conquer the bar of Margaret Court. From the very first day, the legendary athlete came to support the full stands, and this also instilled additional confidence in Serena.

In the first matches, Williams Jr. showed excellent form for her age. In the first round, the American dealt with Danka Kovinic, and in the second round she sent the second racket of the world, Anette Kontaveit, to the exit. It seemed that after that, Ayla Tomlyanovic would become easy prey for the tennis player. However, fans’ expectations were not met.

“The most incredible adventure of my life”

Serena could not stand the pressure of the younger Australian, losing in three sets (5:7, 7:6 (7:4), 1:6). At the age of 40, Williams simply could not keep up with many balls from Isla, who competently used the advantage in speed. The last, perhaps, campaign of the American for the trophy ended unexpectedly quickly.

Serena Williams / Photo: © Quality Sport Images / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

After the match, Williams could not contain her emotions. The point, of course, is not the defeat at the US Open: the American was well aware that her best years were already behind her, which was also shown by her performance at Wimbledon. At that moment, Serena was already preparing to say goodbye to the fans, for whom she had prepared a touching speech. It is not surprising that in the end the tennis player burst into tears herself:

– Thanks to everyone who was here, who worried about me for so many years, almost decades. It all started with my parents. I am grateful to them for everything. And I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t for my sister, Venus. Thank you. You’re the only reason Serena Williams even existed. It was a fun journey, the most incredible adventure that was in my life, said the tennis player after the defeat.

The stands, of course, responded to Serena in return: the fans cried in response and saw off the tennis player with thunderous applause. A video with a monologue and tears from Williams instantly went viral on social networks – fans around the world are already ready to say goodbye to an entire era in the history of tennis, the end of which was summed up by the great American.