Serena Williams, of the United States, waves to fans after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
After a 27-year professional career in tennis that brought 39 grand slam titles — 23 singles titles, 14 doubles titles, and two mixed doubles titles — and an avalanche of records, Serena Williams takes a bow as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court.
Arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time, Williams’ illustrious career came to an end on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium where she lost 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 to Ajla Tomljanovic during this year’s US Open.
The 40-year-old American, who had earlier stated that she will retire from the sport after the tournament, burst into tears as she thanked her family — including father Richard, mother Oracene, and elder sister Venus — for the roles they played in her prestigious career.
“Thank you Daddy, I know you’re watching. Thanks Mom. Oh my God,” Williams said during the post-match interview with Mary Joe Fernández, as tears ran down her face.
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“I just thank everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side, so many year, decades, oh my gosh literally decades.
“But it all started with my parents and they deserve everything so I’m really grateful for them.
“I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t [for] Venus, so, thank you, Venus. She’s the only reason that Serena Williams ever existed.”
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Asked what she will do now that she is officially done with her career, she said: “I think that, I’m definitely, probably going to be karaoking.”
As she retires from tennis, TheCable looks back on Williams’ achievements.
PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
Williams’ professional debut came in October 1995, just after she turned 14.
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During the Bell Challenge in Quebec, the American used a wild-card entry to circumvent age-eligibility rules for a tournament she lost to Annie Miller, a fellow American who was 18 at that time.
In 1999 a ⭐️ was born…@SerenaWilliams started a tennis legacy by beating Martina Hingis to claim her first ever Grand Slam! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Pz53KBS0Vb
— wta (@WTA) September 8, 2018
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GRAND SLAM DEBUT
In September 1999, Williams would secure her first Grand Slam win, taking down the then No. 1 ranked Martina Hingis of Switzerland, 6-3, 7-6, to become the first black woman to win a major tennis championship since Althea Gibson in 1958.
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In 2002, Williams scored her first Wimbledon and French Open wins and a year later, she bagged the Australian Open title for the first time.
At 22, she had already secured a career Grand Slam — winning all four Grand Slams at least once. In 2017, Williams won her 23rd and most recent major title at the Australian Open while pregnant with Olympia, her daughter.
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During her nearly three-decade career, Williams also spent 319 weeks at No 1 and conquered the world in singles and doubles — with the help of her elder sister.
Below are some of her achievements:
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| Number | Year | Grand Slam | Opponent in final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999 | US Open | Martina Hingis |
| 2 | 2002 | French Open | Venus Williams |
| 3 | 2002 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 4 | 2002 | US Open | Venus Williams |
| 5 | 2003 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
| 6 | 2003 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 7 | 2005 | Australian Open | Lindsay Davenport |
| 8 | 2007 | Australian Open | Maria Sharapova |
| 9 | 2008 | US Open | Jelena Jankovic |
| 10 | 2009 | Australian Open | Dinara Safina |
| 11 | 2009 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 12 | 2010 | Australian Open | Justine Henin |
| 13 | 2010 | Wimbledon | Vera Zvonareva |
| 14 | 2012 | Wimbledon | Agnieszka Radwanska |
| 15 | 2012 | US Open | Victoria Azarenka |
| 16 | 2013 | French Open | Maria Sharapova |
| 17 | 2013 | US Open | Victoria Azarenka |
| 18 | 2014 | US Open | Caroline Wozniacki |
| 19 | 2015 | Australian Open | Maria Sharapova |
| 20 | 2015 | French Open | Lucie Safarova |
| 21 | 2015 | Wimbledon | Garbine Muguruza |
| 22 | 2016 | Wimbledon | Angelique Kerber |
| 23 | 2017 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
Williams Grand Slam titles (doubles)
| Number | Year | Grand Slam | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999 | French Open | Venus Williams |
| 2 | 1999 | US Open | Venus Williams |
| 3 | 2000 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 4 | 2001 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
| 5 | 2002 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 6 | 2003 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
| 7 | 2008 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 8 | 2009 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
| 9 | 2009 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 10 | 2009 | US Open | Venus Williams |
| 11 | 2010 | Australian Open | Venus Williams |
| 12 | 2010 | French Open | Venus Williams |
| 13 | 2012 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
| 14 | 2016 | Wimbledon | Venus Williams |
Williams Grand Slam titles (mixed doubles)
| Number | Year | Grand Slam | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998 | Wimbledon | Max Mirnyi |
| 2 | 1998 | US Open | Max Mirnyi |
RETIREMENT PLANS
In a chat with Vogue, Williams said she is “evolving away from tennis, and toward other things that are important to me.”
The tennis icon also said she plans to spend more time with Olympia and Alexis Ohanian, her husband, following a glittering globe-trotting career.
“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people,” Williams said.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.
“I’ve been reluctant to admit that I have to move on from playing tennis. It’s like a taboo topic. It comes up, and I start to cry. I think the only person I’ve really gone there with is my therapist.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try. And the lead-up tournaments will be fun.
“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’, I get that. It’s a good fantasy. But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”
TRIBUTES
A host of prominent persons, organisations, and sports biggest names have taken to social media platforms to pay tributes to the tennis legend.
25 years. Champion. Shero. Legend forever! @serenawilliams #USOpen pic.twitter.com/xdo4dy4fpP
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) September 3, 2022
.@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!!!!!!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 3, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/VWONEMAwz3
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) September 3, 2022
Venus and Serena Williams taught Black girls around the world that if it is possible, you can achieve it.
Forever indebted. #ESSENCE pic.twitter.com/lZk5XKnBpA
— ESSENCE (@Essence) September 3, 2022
Merci, @serenawilliams
There will never be another Queen 🏆#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/0UCTFLHv5J
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 3, 2022
Serena !!! U have inspired us all . Thank u for showing us what greatness looks like !@serenawilliams #USOpen2022
📷: John Minchillo/AP pic.twitter.com/0bcuG4yOhO
— Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) September 3, 2022
What. A. Career. Simply the greatest of all time! Congrats for an outstanding career @serenawilliams It was a privilege to compete against you. You’ve pushed all of us to become a better player!
All the best Serena pic.twitter.com/nIS03vRwnc— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) September 3, 2022
The goat @serenawilliams ❤️ thank you Serena ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VKLUynps6b
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) September 3, 2022
Serena. Thank you for being you and the inspiration to so many men and women. I’ve never seen a more intense competitor and it was an honor to share a court with you and watch history. Simply the best. @serenawilliams
— James Blake (@JRBlake) September 3, 2022
A legacy defined not just by numbers, but the generations she inspired.
Thank you, Serena, for making so many fall in love with our sport 💜💚#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rqjO0IvxaI
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 3, 2022
More than tennis.
More than one of the greatest.You mean more to us than we can say, @serenawilliams 💙
Congrats on a legendary career 👑 pic.twitter.com/9HIY6yABET
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) September 3, 2022
Words cannot describe what #Serena has meant to us all. pic.twitter.com/a4YvBgNhOL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
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