Serena Williams is still not satisfied

Serena Williams. Where do you start? She is a fierce competitor, a twenty-three-time Grand Slam champion, a former world number one who also happened to win a Grand Slam without losing a set, while she was … pregnant. Yes, while she was pregnant. If that doesn’t impress you, find another sport.

Last September, she stepped onto court for the final time as she was defeated by Tomljanovic in the US Open last 32. It was an emotional day for her as she realised her last ever competitive tennis ball had been hit.

2022 was an odd year for her, but a really significant one. She started off by playing doubles at Eastbourne where she ultimately had to pull out due to an injury for partner Ons Jabuer. Wimbledon produced a thriller between herself and Harmony Tan, although in the end up it was a first-round match that was lost in a match tiebreak. After that, she only recorded one victory before the US Open.

At flushing meadows, many were expecting a first-round exit. The American looked sluggish beforehand and in no fit state to compete at the highest level. You must remember though, Serena and Washington equal magic. It possesses one of the world’s quickest courts and an ambient home crowd that pushes her to new levels. When she steps onto that court she finds a new game, a different level.

Danka Kovinic was no match for her as Williams breezed through the opener in straight sets. Next up was the number two seed Anett Kontaveit. The rankings that night became irrelevant though and it was the home favourite who progressed. After winning a thriller first set she dished up a flat second set losing it 6-2. Many thought she was tired, others suggested it was her poor fitness level and old age that was failing her “again”. Yet, she fought back to set up a clash with Tomjlanovic. Although she would ultimately go on to lose to the Aussie, she had already done the impossible. Short on matches, short on practice, and well past her peak, yet Serena Williams was still able to put a show on.

It was similar to Andy Murray at this season’s Australian Open. Any sane person would have walked away satisfied with that being the final chapter of an illustrious career. Yet, deep down Williams was unsatisfied. She talked about it to Eurosport recently saying :

“I was actually not very happy at all. Just because of the result. I was there to keep going and to keep winning. Yeah, it was more or less like, ‘I can’t believe I let that match go’ more than anything, you know. Obviously, it was a great moment and a great memory and I’ve never felt – I don’t feel like I’ve left anything, but I just felt like, ‘What could I have done better that day? I’ve literally given my whole life to tennis and it’s time for me to give my life to something else. Winning to me is just to pick out the best deals to invest in, you know. We need people like me. We need women writing the cheques because I really am a big believer in like attracts like.”

To think that she was unsatisfied is incredible. Especially when you compare it with the retirement of Ashleigh Barty, it’s bizarre how some people differ. Although, all in all, you have to be happy that she is now content. It’s almost like we are all in denial but the sooner we accept it the better: the final chapter of one of the greats has been written and closed.

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