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Serena Williams, barring sensational second thoughts, played the last matrch of her amazing professional career, losing in three sets in the third round of the 2022 US Open to Ajla Tomljanovic. The twenty-three-time Grand Slam champion plays an absolutely epic game, even she cancels seven match points in the second set tie break before finding herself understandably and legitimately with the gasoline needle close to zero.
She has some recriminations during the first set, as she does not take advantage of 5-3 with the available serve and she loses the last four games. Serena tries to stay attached to the match, even if she doesn't immediately take advantage of 40-0 at the start of the second.
Despite this, she shoots 3-0 and resumes the game. Ahead 4-0, the twenty-three-time Grand Slam champion turns off the light again. She finds herself, yes, at 5-2 but once again she needs to cling to the tie break to extend the game.
Amidst the screams of a Central Court completely, totally and absolutely at her feet, the legendary American manages to win the jeu decisif and at least secure the third set. For better or for worse she continues to play the game, even if she obviously loses precision, clarity and above all freshness in lateral movements.
The Australian tennis player, who continues undaunted to push in an incredible way, breaks the balance at 2-1 and no longer makes any particular changes to the script. On the contrary. She shoots 4-1, she takes advantage of another lame game from Serena who still finds a way to cancel five match points before surrendering to the mocking passage of time.
She finishes 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-1 after more than two hours of play, between the surreal silence that anticipates the end and the roar that accompanies the most mocking of epilogues. Any word would be too redundant: the sporting career of the greatest tennis player of all time has simply come to an end.
Twenty-three-time Grand Slam champion, icon on and off the court, ruler of three different generations and a source of inspiration for tennis for the last twenty-five years. Thanks for all this year of great tennis!