“We love you Serena,” shouted fans as the tennis legend could have the final singles match of his career
“We love you Serena,” shouted fans as the tennis legend could have the final singles match of his career
Serena Williams entered Arthur Ashe Stadium with her diamond-adorned dress shining under New York skies, with more than 23,000 people shouting for her approval.
Poor Danka Kovinic, her opponent, must have felt like the lone woman at the US Open.
“We love you Serena,” shouted fans as the 23-time Grand Slam title winner What could have been the last singles match of his career,
His enthusiasm intensified in less than two hours when he secured a place in the next round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
This being New York, there was no limit to the hype or anticipation.
“The Greatest of All Time” shouted “#Twirl for Serena” after the courtside video, a plea to mimic the player’s signature win celebration.
Anyone who wanted to see history, should this be the final storm of legend.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, nursing her pet dog, sits next to heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
There were former US President Bill Clinton, Hollywood star Hugh Jackman, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Vera Wang.
In a post-match celebration of Williams’ 27-year-long career, Billie Jean King applauded her compatriot.
“Thank you for sharing your journey with each one of us,” she said.
Williams’ outfit grabbed everyone’s attention, a six-layer skirt—one tier for every US Open title she won—and a diamond-encrusted bodice.
“This is a dress made for the farewell of a supernova,” said new York Times,
Williams later revealed that she had customized the costume on the fly.
“I have six layers to represent six wins, but I took out four because it was too heavy,” she said.
Earlier, as Kovinic sat patiently in front of the courtroom, actress and rapper Queen Latifah recounted a scintillating recount of Serena’s greatest moments.
“Queen of this, this and this. Queen of style, Queen of grace. You rewrote history, page by page.”
Serena isn’t officially committed to retiring, but Queen Latifah knows better.
“If you decide to return, the throne will be waiting. Queen of our hearts.”
Flushing Meadows regular film director Spike Lee got one of his most cherished close-ups to help with the toss before the match.
Loyal fans travel from afar
However, it wasn’t just the glitterati that came into force on Monday. Williams’ loyal fans traveled far and wide to see what could be the icon’s final appearance.
Tia Greene had flown in from Oklahama City and explained with her four cousins from Indiana what Williams meant to them.
“For minorities, she’s an ambassador. She showed you can do what you thought you couldn’t,” the 55-year-old African-American woman told AFP,
“For a little girl from Compton, California, and being able to play with her sister and achieve what she has achieved is a great inspiration, that you can do anything, no matter what the circumstances. “
All five women wore shiny T-shirts with the slogan ‘Unapologetically Greatness, Goat’.
Ms Green toured the vast tennis complex and saw another impact of Williams’ legacy.
“You can see the diversity in the crowd. Ten, 20 years ago, this place didn’t look like this.”
Another fan, born in Beirut and a US citizen since 1999, Queen’s Olmazah, watched the match in eight rows.
His ticket was bought by his daughter for him. Together they put up a banner in honor of the player’s father and coach with the words: “Thank you King Richard for Queen Serena”.
From his vantage point, Sapna was being kept alive as Williams shook off the plague of double faults to take the first set.
“To see her here is like a dream come true,” Olmaza said.