Serena Williams will have refused until the end to pronounce the word “end”, as if it meant abdicating in the face of the inevitable, something as unthinkable, impossible, for her, the eternal fighter, as accepting to lose on a court. And yet…
At 40, the American had to make up her mind, not without offering herself a last stand at the US Open, the scene of her greatest exploits, before being that of her farewell to professional tennis which has made her an exceptional champion, with the best track record of the modern era with 23 Grand Slam titles.
After 2 stunning victories, driven by her inexorable will to win, she ended up losing in the 3rd round once morest Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. At the moment of farewell, a torrent of emotion: the tears invaded her, her throat was knotted. So, might she reconsider her decision to retire? “I don’t think so, but you never know“, she will answer. Irreducible.
afp/adav
