US Open: Serena William’s run was ended by Ajla Tomljanovic after a three-set epic battle

Image: The West Australian

Serena Williams crashed out of the US Open on Friday after losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in what looks like a career-ending defeat. Serena lost her third-round clash 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1.

The 23-time Grand Slam title winner and six-time champion in New York will be turning 41 in three weeks’ time, and she has chosen to remain “vague” over her retirement plans. However, without a major title since 2017, her 27-year-career was now almost certainly over.

Serena said after the match that she was satisfied with her performance, but she was already eyeing her post-tennis life. She said, “It takes a lot of work to get here. Clearly, I’m still capable. It takes a lot more than that.”

“I’m ready to, like, be a mom, explore a different version of Serena.

“Technically, in the world, I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking.”

While hoping to remain involved in tennis in some capacity, Williams plans to spend more time with her daughter Olympia who is 5.

“It’s been really hard on her, my career,” she said. “So it will be nice just to do that and spend some time with her, do things that I never really have done or had an opportunity to do.”

She also admitted to the uncertainty of the role tennis played in her life.

“I’ve had so many amazing moments that I don’t see a future without it,” she said. “What’s my involvement? I have no idea.”

Williams refused to come out clear as to retiring from tennis, having deflected the question yet again.

Image: The Japan Times

“I’m not thinking about that. I always did love Australia, though,” she quipped in reference to next January’s Australian Open, a tournament she has won seven times.

During the game, Williams gave it all before a ferociously partisan crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium during her three-hour battle with Tomljanovic.

Image: WAMU

She leveled the match in a marathon 1hr 23mins second set, but her resistance was finally broken in the third set as Tomljanovic raced into a 5-1 lead.

She threw everything in to prevent defeat, but she couldn’t but had to bow to Tomljanovic at the end.

Afterward, Williams saluted the crowd, welling up as Tina Turner’s anthem “Simply the Best” belted out around the stands.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Williams said. “It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on, I mean, in my life.

“I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said, ‘Go, Serena,’ in their life. You got me here.”

Image: Last Word On Sports

Williams reserved special praise for her parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price, who put her and elder sister Venus on the path to tennis superstardom.

“It all started with my parents,” Williams said. “They deserve everything.”

Source: punchng.com

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