Serena Williams announced that the US Open, which began in the final week of August, would be the final grand slam of her career. Serena also partook in the doubles event alongside her sister Venus, which presented another opportunity to seek one final dose of glory, but they were unfortunately beaten by a Czech up-and-comer and veteran duo.
Williams has won 23 grand slams throughout her career including six US Open victories, and her ability to win consistently meant she was still a realistic outside option for the Open.
Quarter final !!!
1/4 de final a New York @usopen #FlyWithCaro #USOpen #USOpen2022
Photo @corinnedubreuil pic.twitter.com/u9wOoSXZxx
In terms of the top favourites for the tournament, a bet on tennis over the next few weeks prices Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia at 9/2 to claim victory. In Paddy Power's outright US Open 2022 betting markets, one of the other main favourites, at this stage, in terms of winning the tournament is Ons Jabeur, with odds of 15/2.
Garcia will be full of confidence following her Cincinnati Open win at the end of August.
Williams competed against some incredible rising players in the tournament who have age on their side and so it would have taken a monumental effort for her to claim one final victory, however, her experience and mentality meant she did not give up until defeat was guaranteed and this made her an extremely tough opponent as she fought until the very end against Ajla Tomljanović in the third round.
It looked as if Serena would bow out of her tennis singles career by losing straight sets but she fought back remarkably to seal a deciding set but she, unfortunately, lost 6-1 in the final set to Tomljanovic.
Venus Williams will also take part in the singles event but is a huge outsider at odds of 500/1 to go all of the way and win in the final, in truth Venus has remained in her sister's shadow for the vast majority of her career, but she has still been an outstanding individual and even shown that alongside her sister at WTA title events, grand slams and even the Olympics, where she has been a vital partner to Serena every step of the way.
Serena's opponent, Tomljanovic, was possibly fuelled by the motivation of playing in the final game of a tennis greats career, knowing a win meant she would go down as the final singles opponent of Williams, regardless of the Croatian-Australian player's potential success or lack of in the remainder of the event, she has certainly left her mark on the history of the game.
If Williams had reached the quarter-final stage, it is likely she would have faced Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who was listed as world #1 as recently as June this year.
We all transform. Retirement? I prefer forever evolving. @SerenaVentures https://t.co/m1i3uYd31Z
To bow out of the sport to a rising younger player who still has years of competing left in the tank does not deprive Williams of any pride and it is likely at her current age she would have also struggled heavily against Jabeur or an opponent of a similar level.
Facing a legend of the sport is sure to be intimidating for anyone, and there are many highly ranked players currently yet to win a grand slam, and the question is whether having experience and knowing how to win, is a superior asset to physical ability.
Perhaps Tomljanovic answered that question when she shocked Selena and brought an end to her singles career.
