The American tennis player could play the last match of her career if she loses this Monday against Montenegrin Danka Kovinic.
2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2022, in the Queens borough of New York City.
Serena Williams, winner of 73 titles, 23 of them Grand Slam (23 in doubles, 14 in majors), number one for 319 weeks, and Olympic champion in London 2012 (three times in pairs with her sister Venus), could play this Monday (01:00, Eurosport), at the US Open, the last singles match of his long and successful career.
The American, close to turning 41, faces the Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (27 and 80th in the world), an unprecedented rival for her, on the night shift of the Arthur Ashe.
The tournament has given her star honors both in her promotion and in the treatment she receives from her, befitting a top seed, even though she is not now.
Her training sessions have been streamed, some with the public, and a very warm reception is expected from the local fans on center court, for which she was a six-time champion, more than anyone, along with Chris Evert.
She made her debut in New York last century in 1988 (against Nicole Pratt) before winning her first major there in 1999.
She has tried to reap the 24th to match the absolute record of Margaret Court since she triumphed at the Australian Open in 2017. Motherhood and the consequent loss of physical tone reduced her options, although she came close to the feat in the Wimbledon finals and the US Open in 2018 and 2019.
Since then, she fell short; this year in London, she failed to get past the first round.
Since Patrick Moratoglou stopped being her coach this year, she is now coached by former Australian player Rennae Stubbs. Her colleagues pay homage to her these days.
She had determination, dedication, and discipline to accomplish many things. She will be a great loss, although I hope she will continue to be linked to tennis, says Rafa Nadal.
She tried to imitate the way she had to use her position and to intimidate being number one. She is a great example, and she showed us that she could do anything, that the sky is the limit", argues the current leader of the ranking, Iga Swiatek.
She has not dominated in one generation or two but three. "She changed the sport. I am very grateful to you. She is the greatest force in the sport, the greatest she will ever be," adds Naomi Osaka, who pushed her away from the title at the US Open four years ago.
There are no fissures regarding the recognition of Serena, who, if she fails against Kovinic, and as long as she does not suffer any mishap, she will have the opportunity to say goodbye again in doubles with Venus.
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