NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (US): The potential end of Serena Williams’ tennis career has left the game staring at the beginning of the end of the sport’s golden age, a terrifying prospect that has long loomed.
The American, who will turn 41 this month, bid an emotional farewell to the US Open after her third-round defeat to Australian Agla Tomljanovic on Friday, in what could be the last singles match of her glittering career.
Although Williams left the door a bit open on an unexpected comeback, her apparent departure – not unexpected, given Williams’ struggles with form and injury for the past 12 months – would have caused tennis directors and organizers to shiver.
“It’s the box office” summed up former British number one Greg Rusedsky on Sky Sports after Williams informed the world of her decision last month in a Vogue article.
“She’s carried women’s tennis over the past two decades with her sister Venus as well. You’ve obviously had other great players around, but she has brought your non-tennis fan to the sport.
“If you know absolutely nothing about tennis, you know the name Serena Williams. She is such an iconic and we are missing an icon in our sport and we will really miss her.”
But it will not be just a loss for women’s tennis. Williams may be the first in a line of great seniors taking time out in their careers in the near future.
Like Williams, the trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have dominated tennis for the past two decades and revolutionized the sport, attracting fans new and old and a long line of sponsors.
Each continues to draw fans to the stands, mobile screens, and television even after two decades on the tour, while their commercial appeal continues to fascinate brands and advertisers.
Injuries to Williams, Federer and Nadal in recent years have repeatedly raised the question of their retirement. Fans and critics wondered how the sport would deal with the prospect of losing out its most marketable athlete.
Federer, 41, has undergone several knee surgeries in the past two years and has not played a competitive match since losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.
The 20-time mega-winner commits to playing the Laver Cup this month and his hometown tournament in Basel in October. It remains unclear whether the father of four would be willing to commit to the rigors of the tour again.
Nadal, 36, is slightly younger, but a chronic foot problem has forced the Spaniard to consider retirement in 2021 and again this year after winning the men’s 22nd major title at the French Open, where he played with anesthetic injections before every game in the Paris.
Radiofrequency treatment relieved the pain in his foot and allowed him to play Wimbledon, but the left-handed does not know if the injury will flare up again.
The youngest of the players, 35-year-old Djokovic is undoubtedly the fittest and seems to be the best bet to keep the flag up for the older generation of tennis.
The Serbian won his 21st title at Wimbledon last month and has made it clear that he is not lacking in motivation to pursue more titles.
While the so-called “Big Three” in the men’s game have continued to fend off the younger generation when it comes to major success, Williams’ tennis career has been less productive in the past two years.
Her last Grand Slam victory came in 2017 and she has yet to win a WTA title since lifting the ASB Classic in Auckland at the start of the 2020 season.
Despite it all, Williams remained the biggest draw in women’s tennis whenever she entered the court.
“She is an inspiration to many people all over the world. She has given so much to tennis, so we are fortunate to have a great ambassador like Serena for such a long time,” Nadal said after defeating Williams on Friday.
“She deserves to choose what works for her at this point in her life.”