Wimbledon 2022: Serena Williams - Will the biggest show in tennis continue?
Serena Williams may have played her last match at Wimbledon on Tuesday. The 40-year-old fought to the end. And as almost always, the fans were taken on a rollercoaster ride.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 29, 2022, 08:47 am
In 1999, Serena Williams won her first of 23 Grand Slam titles at the US Open. It's pretty much out of the question for someone else to come along. The game breaks of the now 40-year-olds are too long, the competition too strong, especially in physical terms. But 1999 was also the year the St. Louis Rams shook up the National Football League. A style of football that has earned quarterback Kurt Warner and his team the nickname "The Greatest Show on Turf." If Tuesday evening at Wimbledon 2022 showed anything, it was that: Serena Williams is still the biggest show in women's tennis.
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After all, who else polarizes the fans, journalists and observers on the tour in the same way? Yes, Serena is drama, sometimes a lot of drama, often too much drama. But Serena Williams also stands for fighting spirit to the last point, even if her body has long been on strike. Like at the very end of the match against Harmony Tan. The last two points were very difficult for her, Williams explained in the press conference after the game, but all in all she was satisfied with her condition.
Positive reactions to Serena's performance
A year off - what was realistic to expect from Serena? In contrast to the recent past, her Instagram channel also remained empty in terms of training pictures. Who knows how hard she really trained. And since when. At least in Roland Garros, it seemed impossible to the usually well-informed American journalists that Williams would come back at all.
Serena Williams would have liked more appearances at Wimbledon 2022, no question. Whether that was it overall - or whether there might be another appearance at the US Open - she couldn't and/or didn't want to say late Tuesday. Maybe a look at social media will help you for once: because there the reactions to Serena's appearance were mostly positive.
Does everything depend on Cori Gauff?
Serena Williams is no longer dependent on tennis. Conversely, the same cannot be said with so much conviction. Because who in the current generation moves the masses like Serena? Will it be enough if Iga Swiatek has won four, seven, ten Grand Slam titles (which is by no means certain)? Will Naomi Osaka get back in the form that made her almost unbeatable, at least on hard court, and so popular with younger fans in particular? What about Bianca Andreescu, who, in addition to her great tennis (when she is healthy), also has a polarizing factor?
Or will everything ultimately depend on Cori Gauff, who at the age of 18 is already being forced to play the role of foreign minister for the entire WTA tour? Gauff is still missing the titles, but in terms of fighting spirit she has already come closer to Serena. A few hours before her tall compatriot, the teenager was on the brink of defeat against Garbiela Ruse on Court 2, somehow muddled through to the next round. But that also puts the later departure of Serena Williams into perspective. Because with women, anyone can beat anyone. Unless your name is Iga Swiatek.
Here is the individual tableau in Wimbledon
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