Serena Williams , her incredible achievements over the past two decades inspired many to join this sport. Her recent performance, making us all wonder whether it is the end of a beautiful career?
Serena Williams slowly picked herself up off her knees, each movement looking more pained than the last. She screamed in agony as fell to the ground and by the time she stood up , the chair umpire was by her side. The match was over and with it , her much publicized quest for her 24th major title and eighth at Wimbledon.
She covered her face with her arm and couldn't hide the tears falling down her face. She waved to the Centre Court crowd with her hand over her heart, as they showered her with a loud standing ovation. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglor said her injury was at the top of her hamstring in the glute. The devastation was clearly written on her face and she didn't bother about masking it.
Despite having a season filled with more questions than answers and having played in just five events, Williams was one of the favourites entering this year's third major. With the tournament having been cancelled in 2020 because of corona virus pandemic, most players having little recent experience on grass and the absence of stars like Naomi Osaka and reigning champion Simona Halep, everything was lining up for Williams to finally match Margaret Court's long standing record of most major titles of all time.
The road ahead is unclear. At first, she will try to recover from her injury and then to prepare for the US Open.
Since coming back from childbirth in 2018, Williams has made four major finals- Wimbledon in 2018 and 2019 and the US Open the same year. In all four tournaments, she largely cruised to the championship match but lost both finals in straight sets.
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Shriver said," I've said for a long time I believe she wants to win one as a mom even more than she wants the record but getting ready for the US Open won't be easy, even if she's healthy , given all she's been through there. Not to mention the physicality of hard courts. It's tougher on the body than grass and there are so many talented players now on that surface."
Williams has previously said she wasn't necessarily chasing Court's record but she has spoken openly about her desire to win Grand Slams and her belief that she still has what it takes to do so. Her upcoming decisions may largely center on if that confidence still remains.
The Canadian Open , a 1000 level event in which she was the runner up in 2019, could be the next tournament she would target. The event is slated to begin on August 9 in Montreal.
For years, Williams' younger opponents, from those she's faced in finals like Osaka and Halep to the ones who often play her in the early rounds have spoken openly about their admiration for her and how as kids learning the sport, they fantasize about getting the chance to face her at a Grand Slam.
The window for these dreams to come true is undoubtedly getting smaller. While it may not be now , Williams will one day make the decision to walk away from the sport she transformed with her dominant play and transcendent superstardom. Her influence will long be felt by generations to come and no matter whether she wins another major or never plays another match, her legacy is firmly secured.
