Serena Williams Bows Out
Took some time tonight from football to watch the final set of Serena William’s last professional match at the US Open before retiring. She lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-1. There are not many moments in life one gets to see Babe Ruth’s last at bat,
Best tennis player of our era, man or woman. absolute legend.
September 3rd, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
Gee, if only they tested for those things. And if only those tests could be as accurate as your perceptions.
September 3rd, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Sports drug testing is pretty much a joke. The cheaters are well ahead of the tests in most sports, outside of a couple that actually take it seriously and try to keep up (cycling, track).
But if we accuse her of PED use, we could just as well say the same for her competition.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:56 AM ^
It was fun to think she might have lost to a relation of Rudy Tomjanovich (though her name is spelled Tomjanovic). It was amazing to see how cool and composed Tomjanovic played in spite of the crowd being loudly and nearly 100% against her. A little like what's in store for M at Columbus this year (I hope). Go Blue!
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:13 AM ^
Ajla played unbelievably well. Kind of annoying really since her MO is to choke up in tough matches. She could hardly make an error tonight. Don’t think she’s a fitting victor for Serena’s last match but whatevs.
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:38 AM ^
Great athlete, but she lost me with her tantrum some years back when she basically called the ump racist when he deducted points from her for cheating (when she was in fact caught on tape cheating).
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:55 AM ^
Tommy Paul absolutely should have taken out Ruud. In the 3rd set, he was serving 40-0 with set point on his racket, and could not close it out. He lost in a tiebreak and I think lost any chance of winning the match.
We are down to:
Nakashima vs Sinner (#11)- I actually like Brandon's chances here- Sinner is not great on hard court and Nakashima is playing some very good tennis. If he can win today, he has a very good chance of getting to the QF.
Brooksby vs Alcaraz (#3)- I don't think Brooksby has a shot here, but I've been wrong about him before.
Tiafoe (#22) vs Schwartzman (#12)- Diego has no weapons and hard court is his least-favorite surface. Tiafoe should be able to win this going away. After that, likely Nadal.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:09 AM ^
Fritz and Korda are the only American men with the games to realistically compete for a grand slam. Both shit the bed against other Americans in the first and second rounds.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:18 AM ^
I disagree with that. I think Nakashima is on a great upwards trajectory; dude plays incredibly solid, has great depth, and doesn't seem to get rattled.
I'm worried about Korda. He just seems to be so incosistent.
I agree with Fritz. He should never have lost that match to Holt.
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
Yeah, I put Nakashima up there among the American men. He's really good. I can't figure out what the hell is going on with Korda. Technically and physically, he seems like he should be top-15. But then he loses to a lot of lower level guys. If he can straighten out the intangible stuff, I think he has the highest ceiling of any American man right now.
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:58 AM ^
Ended up being an epic well played match with so many match points. Was nice to hear the classy appreciation remarks by both Serena and Aija after the match. An amazing 25 year career in pro tennis.
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
Tomjanovic played unbelievably well and just good enough to win. Serena played really well. She was serving for both the first and second sets at 5-3, which is pretty much all you can ask for.
The most interesting moment for me was during Serena's on-court interview after the match. She said that she was improving and ascending and wished that she'd started playing matches this season earlier in the summer so that she was closer to peak now. They were the comments of a competitor who is hungry and knows that she still has what it takes. I think it's going to be hard for her to stay retired.
Indeed when Mary Jo outright asked her if she might come back and play again, Serena wouldn't answer conclusively. I put it at 50/50.
September 3rd, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
Apparently the thing that's pushed her to retire is the desire to have another child. That can't wait too much longer. Otherwise I imagine she'd stay at it a couple more years.
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:49 AM ^
One other crazy thing about Serena's career. If it wasn't for her own sister, she would almost certainly have surpassed Margaret Court's all-time slam record. Venus beat Serena in two Grand Slam finals and a semi.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:43 PM ^
"Best tennis player of our era, man or woman."
Dude is like "well, I really like tennis and Serena Williams and I think other people do to, but I also really want to needlessly throw out an identity politics remark into sports thread so people think I'm woke."
Get a grip.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:06 PM ^
Maybe you meant "most dominant" tennis player of our era? It's pretty easy to defend.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:38 PM ^
Shes the most accomplished tennis player of All Time ,but even in her prime ,she would lose to mens college tennis players .
Google her mixed doube matches,where shes LITERALLTY AFRAID of the serves ,from some of the guys .