In sheer glory, Serena received a standing ovation when she walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium to play her match against Danika Kovinic. Photo: AFP
They have come a long way to the US Open on Monday Serena Williamsexcited to see her play or if they weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket, at least get an autograph, a preview during workouts or a chance to breathe the same air at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Williams will play her first round game at the US Open on Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Opposite is Danka Kovinic. It could be her last game.
While thousands of people arrived in the surroundings of Arthur Ashe a few hours before the meeting. Nobody knows how many other chances they will have of seeing it. People have come to see, or think they see, Serena wields her racket as she did to win 23 Grand Slam titles, more than any other person in the age of professional tennis that began in 1968, because she warned she was ready to leave his tennis days behind.
And they were there to honor her or show her appreciation for what she has done on and off the pitch.
Voices of Serena
Serena means a lot to many people. As a tennis player, as a woman, as an African American, as a mother, as an entrepreneur.
“When it started, the tennis players didn’t get the same recognition. She did a lot,” said Quintella Thorn, 68, of Columbus, Georgia, who will be participating in the US Open for the eighth time. “And now she is. ..”.
“Evolving,” interrupted her friend Cora Monroe, 72, of Shreveport, Louisiana.
That word “evolve” is Williams’ way of referring to her retirement when she wrote an article for Vogue magazine three weeks ago confirming that she was ready to focus on having a second child (daughter Olympia, who is in the stands). . , she turns 5 on Thursday) and in her venture capital firm.
While Williams didn’t make it clear that the US Open was definitely going to be her last tournament – she’ll also play doubles with her 42-year-old sister Venus, who has won seven Grand Slam titles – she made it seem like that would be the case.
“Once Serena announced she was going to play the US Open, it sold out in a millisecond for Monday and Tuesday nights. You can see from the scalper, prices hit $ 230. I saw $ 2,300 for the court level. in the afternoon, “said Stacey Allaster, director of the Grand Slam.
That’s why this Monday was more important than any first day in a major. And because the show of the day didn’t mention any other of the dozen tennis players in action and featured a montage of six images of Williams holding her six US Open trophies above the headline: “Serena Williams, a Legacy of Greatness. “.
The United States Tennis Association said more than 16,500 tournament tickets were sold on the day Williams announced their intention to retire, more than in the previous seven days. This included 4,600 seats for a sold out Monday night.
Source: Clarin
