Washington, Sept. 3 (US): Leave it to Serena Williams not to want to go quiet, and not to want this game to end, this trip to the US Open, this super career of hers, really.
Right down to what was, save for a change of attitude, the final minutes of her quarter-century on the tennis court, and the never-ending unwillingness to tell what wasn’t possible, Williams tried to make one last classic comeback, earning one last. Vintage victory, with fans on their feet in full Arthur Ashe Stadium, cell phone cameras ready.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion earned five game points to prolong the proceedings over three hours, but couldn’t do more, and was knocked out by the US Open in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 Friday evening, with what is expected to be the end of it.
She turns 41 this month and recently told the world that she’s ready to start “evolving” away from her playing days – she voiced an aversion to the word “retirement” – and while purposely remaining vague about whether this appearance at Flushing Meadows would certainly be everyone assumed she would represent its last stage.
insult