Serena Williams’ legendary tennis career likely over after third-round singles’ play loss at US Open
LOS ANGELES — Serena Williams’ career is over.
The 32-year-old world champion, who will retire Nov. 6 at the U.S. Open, was broken twice by Kv1 star Jelena Ostapenko in the third-round of doubles at the tournament. She was leading 3-1 in the third set, but Ostapenko broke Williams to win and move on.
The 23rd-seeded Williams, who reached the semifinals and has won eight consecutive grand slams, lost her first match since Wimbledon in January, when she fell to Venus Williams in the quarterfinals in three straight sets. Her fourth-round match was a 1- hour, 25-minute affair, which Williams played through, while Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in the second round.
Williams also played in a final in her last match at Wimbledon because she was too ill to play a third-round match, which she lost.
Ostapenko said on the court after her victory that Williams was “not the same”.
“I had to beat her because she [Williams] was the No. 1 in the world,” she said. “Maybe there’s something wrong inside her. She’s not the same.”
Williams’ decision to retire was confirmed in a statement issued by her professional team, the Williams Cosmetics Tennis Management Corp., on Thursday.
“Serena Williams has decided to retire after the 2016 US Open,” the statement said.
“Serena’s decision was a very difficult one, but after careful consideration, we all believe it is the best decision for her and her family.”
Williams has won 19 career Grand Slam titles and 16 Grand Slam doubles titles. She is the longest-reigning women’s tennis champion in the Open Era and had more singles titles than any other active player. Even if she were to play until she died tomorrow, she could
