In early August, he declared his imminent retirement. But Serena Williams certainly isn’t really completely ready to hang up at any time quickly. For what could be her very last tournament, and in any scenario her very last overall look at the US Open, the American has supplied herself the welcome of a queen.
In a packed Arthur-Ashe Stadium, the previous planet premiere entered dressed in shimmering garments, cheered by a standing viewers. “The best of all time”, she study on the screens of the stadium (“The biggest of all time”).
In the stands, (quite) gorgeous persons. Among the the very well-acknowledged leaders, the previous president of the United States Monthly bill Clinton but also Hugh Jackman, Anna Wintour, Mike Tyson, Spike Lee or Lindsey Vonn. As for tennis, former champion Martina Navratilova was also eliminated, as perfectly as Billie Jean King, who even honored Williams in a speech.
But a single of the most visible spectators was ultimately Serena Williams’ daughter Olympia, whose hairstyle paid tribute to her mother’s very first steps on the US Open up courts. On the pitch, the player with 23 Grand Slam titles extended the enjoyment and failed to shiver. In entrance of Montenegrin Danka Kovinic, 80th in the globe, she gained 6-3, 6-3, and as a result she was awarded the ticket for the 2nd round.
In advance of leaving Flushing Meadows center court on Monday, Serena Williams was capable to enjoy a fantastic tribute from her group. A big blue cheer was deployed in the stadium, with white letters and a red heart, a very simple message: “We like Serena”. Notice that the player welcomed with a smile, visibly moved. “My God! I love you far too,” she then introduced into the microphone.
This Wednesday the activity will be a lot more complicated for the 40-year-old Floridian, who will deal with the 2nd world championship Anett Kontaveit in a gala match. The opportunity, potentially, to see her strike the very last balls of his occupation.
Tsitsipas already out
If Serena Williams’ match was the celebration of the 1st working day of the US Open, for the men, a big surprise rocked the scoreboard. Seeded selection 4, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas manufactured his debut in a catastrophic way versus the Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan, from qualifying. The 94th in the globe gained the initially two sets quite sharply, 6-, 6-1. Following shedding the third established, he eventually won in 4 sets and emerged as one of the match headliners in the 1st round (6-, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5).
For the other favorites every little thing went improved, these as globe number 1 and reigning winner Daniil Medvedev, simple three-set winner of Stefan Kozlov, or seed amount 5 Casper Ruud, who canceled Kyle Edmund devoid of losing a round.
Roberto Bautista Augut and Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, fell on the avenue, as did Simona Halep or Daria Kasatkina between females.
On the French facet it functions for Garcia but not for Gaston
As for the Blues, Arthur Rinderknech came out victorious from his Franco-French duel with Quentin Halys and gained the ideal to deal with environment amount 1 Daniil Medvedev in the following round. Benjamin Bonzi removed compatriot Ugo Humbert, when Hugo Grenier also competent. Conducted two sets to zero, the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka was forced to generate versus the French Corentin Moutet. But for Hugo Gaston the adventure ended prematurely, after the defeat from the Kazakh Alexander Bublik.
In the women’s draw, only a Frenchwoman has skilled for the next round so significantly. Caroline Garcia quietly gained versus Russian Kamilla Rakhimova (6-2, 6-4). On the other hand, no enterprise for the competent Léolia Jeanjean, logically outclassed by Coco Gauff, as very well as Harmony Tan in opposition to Bianca Andreescu. To total the French equilibrium, Diane Parry and Oceane Dodin also arrived out.
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