What a night in Queens. While Jacob deGrom delivered a vintage performance at Citi Field, Serena Williams was cooking up a similar masterpiece just a short walk away at Arthur Ashe Stadium, scoring an impressive upset over second-seeded Anett Kontaveit, winning her second-round matchup in three sets. In front of a star-studded crowd headlined by PGA legend Tiger Woods (Seal, Spike Lee, Queen Latifah and Zendaya were also in attendance), Williams in her final US Open, gave us all something to remember, the cherry on top of a brilliant career spanning the better part of two decades. And, as she alluded to in her post-match interview with Mary Joe Fernandez, Williams is in "no rush" to end her farewell tour, insisting "there's still a little left in me."
Williams has already cemented her legacy as the greatest women's tennis player—if not the greatest female athlete—of all time, a global icon worthy of all the tributes she's received throughout her weeklong victory lap, celebrating the career of a transcendent talent at least partially responsible for tennis' ascension to mainstream popularity. A role model for black athletes, particularly those competing in predominantly white sports, you could make the argument for Williams being the most influential and important tennis player of our lifetime, rewriting the record books while serving as a central figure in the female empowerment movement, unparalleled in her tenacity and fearlessness. Married with a four-year-old daughter, Williams' continued success post-pregnancy has also been an inspiration, balancing her parenting responsibilities with various entrepreneurial pursuits while still capable of playing at an extremely high level.
Williams' story is one for the ages, clearly resonating on social media with fans, including Steph Curry and Vice President Kamala Harris, in awe of Serena's continued dominance, even as she approaches her 41st birthday later this month.
Williams' next opponent will be Alja Tomljanovic, who advanced on the strength of her second-round triumph over Evgeniya Rodina. When she takes the court Friday, Williams will have a chance to become the first player over 40 to win three main-draw matches at any of the four grand slam events.
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