Serena Williams is predicted to hold up her tennis racket for good after defeat on the US Open and a number of the largest names in historical past of sport have rushed to pay tribute to her legendary profession.
The 40-year-old has not dominated out taking to the courtroom once more, however defeat to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in New York seems to be her ultimate match.
The American has gained 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 extra within the doubles with sister Venus, as she goes down as not solely one of many best to ever play tennis, however one of many most interesting sportspeople ever to carry out.
Unsurprisingly there have been numerous tributes to one of the vital iconic sportspeople in historical past, with fellow legends sending heartfelt messages.
Billie Jean King tweeted: ‘Her unbelievable profession made its mark on tennis historical past. And but her best contributions could also be but to return.
‘Thanks, Serena Williams. Your journey continues.’
Tiger Woods added: ‘@serenawilliams you’re actually the best on and off the courtroom. Thanks for uplifting all of us to pursue our goals. I really like you little sis!!!!!!’
Basketball legend LeBron James despatched a video message to the retiring star, saying: ‘Wow, the place do I begin? Initially congratulations to you for an unbelievable profession. You’re a GOAT.
‘What you’ve carried out for the game of tennis, what you’ve carried out for ladies and what you’ve carried out for the class of sport, interval, is unprecedented.
‘It’s been an honour to observe your journey. To observe you conquer all of the objectives that you simply ever set out. To see you break information, to see you simply be wonderful and transcend the tennis courtroom.
‘I may sit right here and speak about your journey and watching you from afar and our relationship now for an hour, however I don’t wish to bore you an excessive amount of about stuff you already know.
‘I simply wish to say thanks for being an inspiration for therefore many and exhibiting the world, each time you have been on the market, that you simply’re the best, win, lose or draw.
‘I want you nothing however the best journey forward of you. You’ve got been unbelievable and I salute you.’
Present American tennis star Coco Gauff gained her third spherical recreation in New York on Friday and tweeted after: ‘Serena, THANK YOU. It’s due to you I consider on this dream. The influence you’ve had on me goes past any phrases that may be put collectively and for that I say thanks, thanks, thanks, GOAT!’
Naomi Osaka, who famously beat Williams to win the 2018 US Open mentioned: ‘Her legacy is absolutely vast, to the purpose the place you possibly can’t actually describe it in phrases.
‘She modified the game a lot, she’s launched those that have by no means heard of tennis into the game. I believe I’m a product of what she’s carried out. I wouldn’t be right here with out Serena, Venus, her complete household. I’m very grateful to her.’
Andy Murray added: ‘Her achievements inside the sport are clearly unbelievable, she is going to go down as probably the greatest tennis gamers to have ever performed, if not one of the best on the ladies’s facet.’
Lastly, Rafael Nadal mentioned: ‘Not only a tennis participant, she’s been one of the vital necessary athletes within the historical past of the game. From the tennis perspective, it’s an enormous loss that she is leaving, however however, she deserves all of the issues she achieved.’
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