Serena’s US Open run ends: Serena Williams is out of the US Open after losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the third round.
Likely her last tournament: Williams announced last month that she would “evolve away from tennis” after this year’s US Open. Asked after tonight’s match if she would reconsider, she said “I don’t think so, but you never know.”
A storied career: Even though she didn’t achieve a dream final flourish by winning another US Open title, Williams’ 23 grand slam singles titles will go down as the most by any player in the Open Era and just one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Our live coverage has ended. Read more about the match in the posts below.
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Serena Williams on whether she'll reconsider evolving away from tennis: "I don't think so, but you never know"
From CNN's Ben Morse and Jill Martin
Serena Williams waves to fans after losing to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the US Open tennis tournament on Friday.
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam singles champion considered by many to be the greatest of all time, played what likely is the final professional tennis match of her career after losing in the third round on Friday.
Williams announced last month that she will “evolve away from tennis” after this year’s US Open to focus on “other things that are important to me.”
During an on-court interview after the match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović, Williams was asked if she’d reconsider walking away from the game.
In her column last month in Vogue, she wrote: “That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.”
Since losing her professional debut in September 1995, Williams has become the most dominant force in women’s tennis in the last 30 years.
But on the topic of her legacy, Williams said she hopes her accomplishments on and off the court are remembered.
“Over the years, I hope that people come to think of me as symbolizing something bigger than tennis,” she said.
Reactions are pouring in from friends, athletes and the tennis community after Serena Williams' loss
From CNN's Casey Gannon
Reactions from Serena Williams’ fan base poured in moments after she lost her third-round match against Ajla Tomljanović.
Her friend Tiger Woods tweeted his praise and affection for the star:
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick weighed in:
Ons Jabeur, another professional tennis player from Tunisia, posted a short thank you:
American Coco Gauff, who advanced to the round of 16 at the US Open for the first time in her career earlier on Friday night, said after her match she was hopeful that she would play Williams in the tournament.
After Williams’ third-round loss, Gauff tweeted:
The Association of Tennis Professionals, better known as the ATP, simply tweeted “Legend.”
A look at Serena Williams' historic career by the numbers
From CNN's Ben Church and Issy Ronald
Serena Williams will be remembered as one of the greatest tennis players of all time — but that’s just one piece of her extraordinary legacy.
Her decades-long influence in the public spotlight stretches into fashion, business and the fight for social justice.
Here is a look at some of the numbers that established her as one of the best in the sport:
23 Grand Slam titles. She sits just one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. Serena has also won 14 doubles titles, all with her sister, Venus, and two mixed doubles titles.
92 wins at the Australian Open
69 wins at Roland Garros
98 wins Wimbledon
108 wins at the US Open
$94 million in career prize money. No female tennis player has earned anywhere near as much as Williams during her career.
66 startup ventures she has invested in. After leaving tennis behind, Williams said she will turn her focus to venture capital funding, managing a portfolio that already includes 16 unicorns – companies valued at more than $1B – and that champions traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Dive further into the numbers here and see below a tweet from the US Open on the players’ wins:
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US Open sets single day attendance record Friday
The US Open set a single day attendance record on Friday, the tournament said in a statement.
It said 72,039 fans came to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Friday. The day session attendance was 42,202, the US Open said, while the night session attendance was 29,837.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the third-round match between Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović took place, was sold out during the night session with 23,859 people in attendance, the US Open, with “the balance of attendees having night-session tickets to Louis Armstrong Stadium.”
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Ajla Tomljanović on Serena Williams: "She is the greatest of all time. Period."
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Ajla Tomljanović, who defeated Serena Williams in tonight’s match, honored the historic career of her opponent and what she has symbolized for the sport.
“Well, I’m feeling really sorry just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do,” the Australian told the crowd following the match. “What she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible.”
“I never thought that I’d have a chance to play her in her last match when I remember watching her as a kid in all those finals, so this is a surreal moment for me,” she added.
With regards to the significance of Williams’ career, the Australian said she “embodies that no dream is too big.”
“And it doesn’t matter where you come from, you know, the circumstances — you can do anything, if you believe in yourself, and love what you do and you have an incredible support system and family around you,” Tomljanović said.
CNN’s Jill Martin contributed reporting to this post.
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"It's been a fun ride": Serena Williams thanks fans and family after loss in US Open
(Charles Krupa/AP)
Capping off an iconic career, Serena Williams thanked everyone who has “been on her side” for decades after losing in the third round of the US Open on Friday night.
Stepping off the court after falling to Ajla Tomljanović in three sets, Williams was crying as the crowd in the stadium cheered for the superstar who revolutionized the sport.
“These are happy tears,” Williams said during an on-court interview.
She thanked her family and said she was grateful for her parents and her sister, Venus Williams, as well as her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia who is frequently at the matches.
Looking back at her career, Williams said it was the “most incredible” journey she has been on in her life.
“I’m just so grateful, because yeah, you got me here,” Williams said to the crowd.
On her plans to move away from tennis, she said she didn’t think she would play any more matches, but added, “but you never know.”
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Here's a look back at Serena Williams' storied career
From CNN's Ben Morse
Serena Williams poses with the trophy after winning her first Wimbledon title in 2002. She was No. 1 in the world at the age of 20.
(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam singles champion considered by many to be the greatest of all time, played what likely is the final professional tennis match of her career on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Since losing her professional debut in September 1995, Serena Williams has become the most dominant force in women’s tennis in the last 30 years.
Together with her older sister Venus, the Williams sisters transformed the sport, making a regular habit of winning grand slams in both singles and doubles tennis.
Serena has won at least 73 career singles titles, 23 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles, which includes 39 grand slam titles: 23 singles titles, 14 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles.
She is one singles grand slam title behind the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court.
When asked by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour earlier this year if she still wanted to beat Court’s record, she replied: “I should have had it, really, I should — I’ve had many opportunities to have it. But I’m not giving up, to answer your question.”
She addressed this later in Vogue, saying:
The four-time Olympic gold medalist has won over $94.5 million in career prize money, more than any other female athlete.
Away from the court, Williams announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2016, and gave birth to their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in 2017.
Read more about her career and remarks on evolving from tennis here.
CNN’s Jill Martin contributed reporting to this post.
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Serena Williams is out of the US Open after losing in the third round
From CNN's Jill Martin
Serena Williams has lost her US Open singles match to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The defeat likely means the end of her storied career. After winning 73 career singles titles and 39 Grand Slams, Williams said earlier this year she will “evolve away from tennis” after this tournament.
In a match that lasted a little more than three hours, Tomljanović defeated Williams 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1 to advance to the round of 16.
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"She's digging so, so deep today": Serena Williams' coach comments on the first 2 sets
From CNN's Casey Gannon
Rennae Stubbs looks on during Friday's match.
(Elsa/Getty Images))
Serena Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, spoke to ESPN’s Pam Shriver at the beginning of the third set. Williams lost the first set and had to fight her way to winning the second set in a tiebreaker.
Stubbs credited Williams’ opponent Ajla Tomljanović, saying she is handling the crowd gracefully and playing a respectable match.
“She’s digging so, so deep today, and Ajla is playing unbelievable. I have to give so much credit to Ajla, she’s handling this crowd, she’s handling this moment. What we’re seeing why Serena’s so great,” Stubbs said.
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Serena Williams wins second set
From CNN's Jill Martin
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Serena Williams forced a decisive third set against Ajla Tomljanović, winning the second set 7-6 (4). The third set is underway with Tomljanović serving.
Williams had raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set. But Tomljanović battled back, breaking Williams in the fifth game. She later held off a fervent Williams’ push, as the 23-time major singles champion failed to break the Australian to close out the set in a lengthy game at 2-5.
And then, with Williams serving for the set, Tomljanović broke to put the set back on serve.
The set went to a tiebreak, which Williams won 7-4.
The winner of this third-round match will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16.
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Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović play a set tiebreaker
From CNN's Casey Gannon
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović are playing a tiebreak for the second set. The winner is the first player to 7 points and winning by 2 points.
Williams is leading the tiebreak 4-3.
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Ajla Tomljanović battles her way back to tighten second set
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
(Corey Sipkin/AFP/Getty Images)
Fans inside the stadium are anxious after Ajla Tomljanović battled to get back on serve in the second set. At one point, Serena Williams was leading the second set, 4-0.
Williams is now leading 6-5 with Tomljanović serving.
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Fans are on their feet as Serena Williams takes the lead in the second set
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
(Elsa/Getty Images)
The crowd is on its feet as Serena Williams takes the lead in the second set.
Fans are high-fiving each other, punching the air and screaming, not wanting this to be her last match.
Earlier in the set, someone yelled “You’ve got this, Queen!” from the back of the stadium.
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Serena Williams' husband is wearing a shirt with their daughter's photo on it
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is in the stands wearing a shirt showing a photo of their daughter, Olympia.
Olympia attended her mom’s first- and second-round matches at the US Open.
Many observers noted that Olympia wore her hair in braids with white beads – the same hairstyle her mother famously sported in 1999 when she won her first grand slam tournament in New York.
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Serena Williams receives an outpouring of support from athletes and the sports industry worldwide
From CNN's Casey Gannon
With the second set of Serena William’s third-round match underway, she is receiving an outpouring of support from athletes and sports teams she has inspired throughout her career.
Canadian Olympic swimmer Penny Oleksiak shared that she has always looked up to Williams in an interview with TSN.
Team USA posted on Twitter their support for Williams, “#Serena is playing now. We repeat. #Serena is playing now.” Williams is a four-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA.
NBA team the Orlando Magic simply tweeted “witnessing history” during the middle of the first set. The team’s 2022 NBA draft pick Paolo Banchero also posted “I’m really about to see Serena live.”
Roland-Garros, the official name for the French Open, tweeted photos from Serena’s first set. Williams holds three French Open titles.
Another professional tennis player, Christopher Eubanks, posted “This is vintage Serena we’re watching right here.”
Williams lost the first set to Tomljanović 7-5, but she is continuing to receive encouraging social media messages throughout the second set.
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What the energy is like inside the stadium in the second set
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
(John Minchillo/AP)
Serena Williams is working to battle back after a disappointing end to the first set, when she was broken twice.
She opened up with an ace, then hit two unreturnable serves. Later she finished the game off with another massive serve to take the lead in the second set.
Inside the stadium the crowd is loud and exuberant when Williams is playing well, but at other times there is a sense of hushed anxiety.
The roars were deafening as Williams tore into her opponent and took the lead.
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Serena Williams drops first set to Ajla Tomljanović
From CNN's Jill Martin
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
Ajla Tomljanović has won the first set 7-5 against Serena Williams. The second set will begin shortly.
The winner of this third-round match will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16.
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Whoever wins this match will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova
From CNN's Jill Martin
Liudmila Samsonova serves during a women's singles match on Friday.
(Andrew Ong/USTA/AP)
The winner of this US Open third-round match between Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16. Samsonova has just defeated Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-3, 6-3 on Court 5.
Samsonova, 23, is on a 13-match win streak, including winning titles in Washington, DC, and Cleveland.
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Loud cheers erupt inside the stadium when Williams wins a point
(Elsa/Getty Images)
The crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium is cheering loudly for Serena Williams.
Yelling and clapping erupt every time Williams, who is taking on Ajla Tomljanović, wins a point. The match is still in the first set.
Some fans are even holding gold letter balloons that spell out “G.O.A.T” or “greatest of all time,” according to a video posted by the US Open on Twitter.
There was a squeal from Williams as Tomljanović fizzed an ace past her backhand to level the match at 5-5.
We’re now at the business end of the first set, it couldn’t be tighter.
CNN’s Don Riddell contributed reporting from Flushing, New York.
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Coco Gauff hopes she can face Serena Williams at the US Open
From CNN's Jill Martin
Coco Gauff reacts to winning a women's singles match on Friday.
(Garrett Ellwood/USTA/AP)
American Coco Gauff, who advanced to the round of 16 at the US Open for the first time in her career, is hopeful that she can play Serena Williams in this tournament.
“It’s so special,” 18-year-old Gauff said on the court after defeating fellow American Madison Keys 6-2, 6-3.
If Williams and Gauff continue winning, they would face each other in the semifinals.
Gauff was asked moments ago in her post-match press conference if she’ll be watching the rest of Williams’ match Friday night.
“I don’t know if I’m going to watch because it’s been a long couple of days,” Gauff said. “I will be watching on TV, I don’t know if live. It’s loud in there. I don’t think people realize how loud it is.”
Gauff’s best result in a grand slam singles event came earlier this year when she reached the final at the French Open.
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Serena Williams' family and coach are cheering her on in the box
Serena Williams’ sister Venus Williams and her mom are both in the box, along with her coach Rennae Stubbs. Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is also in the stands.
Venus and Serena lost their first-round doubles match on Thursday. It is expected to be their last match together as a doubles team in their storied careers.
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The match has begun
From CNN's Jill Martin
Serena Williams serves against Ajla Tomljanović on Friday.
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
Serena Williams is facing Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the US Open at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
This is the first time Williams and Tomljanović are meeting head to head.
Williams, who turns 41 on Sept. 26, is bidding to become the oldest woman in the Open Era to reach the last 16 at a major.
Tomljanović, whose best grand slam result was when she reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year as well as in 2021, is seeking to advance to the US Open round of 16 for the first time.
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Excitement is building inside the stadium as players take the court
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
Fans watch as Serena Williams is introduced on Friday.
(Elsa/Getty Images)
It’s a beautiful evening in Flushing, New York — about 74 degrees with a light breeze.
The roof is open at Arthur Ashe Stadium and the excitement is building as Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović come out on the court.
There was respectful applause for Tomljanović but she then had to wait as a tribute video was played as Serena Williams arrived.
A video captioned “The queen of Queens” posted on Twitter by the US Open is narrated by Queen Latifah and shows a highlight reel of Williams’ storied career.
Tomljanović has played in the last two quarter-finals at Wimbledon, but nothing like this. Now she’s in the thick of it, the biggest occasion of her career. Can she handle the pressure? We’re about to find out.
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Serena Williams arrives on court at Arthur Ashe Stadium
From CNN's Jill Martin
Serena Williams arrives for her match against Ajla Tomljanović on Friday.
(John Minchillo/AP)
Serena Williams has entered the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium for her US Open third-round singles match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović. This is their first career meeting head to head.
Williams, who turns 41 on Sept. 26, is bidding to become the oldest woman in the Open Era to reach the last 16 at a major.
Tomljanović, whose best grand slam result is when she reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year as well as in 2021, is seeking to advance to the US Open round of 16 for the first time.
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Billie Jean King: Serena Williams has "transcended our sport"
Tennis icon Billie Jean King congratulates Serena Williams after Monday's match.
(John Minchillo/AP)
Billie Jean King, a former world number one tennis player, says she could talk about Serena Williams all day. King is at Williams’ third-round match on Friday.
“You want to talk about Serena? It could take all day,” she told Tennis Channel in a video posted on Twitter. “I think we’ve been very blessed to have Serena Williams in our sport,” she said.
Right now Williams is the G.O.A.T — or “greatest of all time” — but King added, every generation continues to build and get better.
“Serena, you have the best serve ever in tennis and the guys agree with me,” she said.
Serena Williams' coach, Rennae Stubbs, has a ringside seat to the final chapter of her historic career
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
Rennae Stubbs looks on during Serena Williams' first-round match against Danka Kovinic on Monday.
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Ahead of tonight’s match, I bumped into Serena Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, who has a ringside seat to the final chapter of a historic career.
Stubbs is an excellent coach, who possesses the soft skills needed for this moment, how to manage Serena’s emotions. She observed that the hyper partisan crowd has effectively been gifting the American icon a couple of games every set, because her opponents so far have found themselves way out of their depth, trying to compete in such an intense cauldron.
I’ve also been talking to the former World number 4 James Blake. He’s not concerned about Serena’s stamina or lack of matchplay — she’s only played six singles matches this year — he predicts that she’ll win at least her next two matches.
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Photos of Serena Williams on display at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
From CNN's Don Riddell in Flushing, New York
The defending men’s US Open singles champion Daniil Medvedev is also in action tonight, but there is no doubt who is the main attraction.
Photos of Serena Williams are posted around the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as the crowd heads into the arena to watch her third-round singles match tonight.
(Don Riddle/CNN)
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What you need to know about Ajla Tomljanović, who could be Serena Williams' final opponent
From CNN's Matias Grez
Australia's Ajla Tomljanović practices on August 27.
(Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Serena Williams is facing Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović tonight.
Tomljanović, currently the world No. 46, reached a career-high ranking of 38 this season and has enjoyed some notable success in 2022, including quarterfinal runs at Wimbledon and the recent Cincinnati Open.
While Tomljanović has reached four tour-level finals, she has never won a title.
This will be Tomljanović and Williams’ first meeting, according to the the Women’s Tennis Association website.
Williams announced last month that she would “evolve away from tennis” after this year’s US Open. If she loses tonight’s match, she will not advance in the tournament.
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Serena Williams prepares on practice court ahead of her match against Ajla Tomljanović
Serena Williams practices on Friday.
(Pete Staples/USTA/AP)
Serena Williams is on the practice court now. She will soon head to Arthur Ashe Stadium to play her third-round US Open singles match against Ajla Tomljanović at 7 p.m. ET.
The US Open tweeted a video of Williams walking to the practice court wearing a pink skirt.
This could be the last match for Williams who said last month she will “evolve away from tennis” after this tournament to focus on “other things that are important to me.”
Some people are tweeting saying they are excited to watch the match and cheer on Williams. Other fans are remembering her legacy and contributions to the sport.
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One factor that could help determine tonight's match? The crowd.
From CNN's Matias Grez
A view of Arthur Ashe Stadium during Serena Williams' match against Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday.
(Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images)
Serena Williams will play Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the US Open tonight.
The crowd of Arthur Ashe Stadium is once again likely to be a determining factor tonight, as it was in the second round when Williams’ last opponent, Anett Kontaveit, struggled in a raucous atmosphere.
“It was so difficult to cope with the crowd and everything,” she added, breaking down in tears. “I think this was the hardest in this game.”
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"Enjoy this moment": Watch tennis star Roger Federer's message to Serena Williams
From CNN's Jill Martin
Ahead of Serena Williams’ third-round match in what could be her final tournament, Roger Federer had a message for Williams.
The ATP Tour shared a video where Federer, also a player with multiple championship titles, said everything Williams has accomplished in her career is “beyond incredible.” He wished all the best to her and her family as well as her fans, adding, “I am one of them.”
Williams announced last month that she would “evolve away from tennis” after this year’s US Open.
Watch the message:
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"I'm just Serena": Here's what the tennis star said after her second-round win on Wednesday
From CNN's Amir Vera and Jill Martin
(John Minchillo/AP)
After beating world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit to advance to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, Serena Williams said she’s rising to the challenge.
“This is what I do best. I love the challenge, and I’m rising to the challenge. I haven’t played many matches but I’ve been practicing really well,” she said during an on-court interview after the match.
“I mean, I’m just Serena,” she added.
Williams was asked how she’s balancing her emotions with what this tournament means to her this year with wanting to win and with her competitive edge.
The tennis legend — who is 40 years old and mom to Olympia — said, “Really I just wanted to just keep trying, see what I could do. Just do my best. I was just really excited, to be honest.”
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Serena Williams announced last month that she planned to "evolve away from tennis" after the US Open
From CNN's Ben Morse
Fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium show their love for Serena Williams after Monday's opening win over Danka Kovinic.
(Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
Serena Williams announced last month that she planned to “evolve away from tennis” after this year’s US Open to focus on “other things that are important to me.”
In an article in Vogue, the 23-time grand slam winner said that, although she will try to win at the US Open, it is time for her to move “in a different direction.”
“There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction,” Williams posted on Instagram with a picture of herself on the cover of Vogue with the title: ‘Serena’s Farewell…I’m terrible at goodbyes.’
“That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks,” she said.
However, in the article, Williams said: “I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
She continued: “Unfortunately I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try.”
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Serena Williams' daughter is cheering on her mom this week
From CNN's Brandon Griggs
Serena Williams' daughter, Olympia, takes a picture before her mom's match on Monday.
(Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
It’s hard to name Serena Williams’ biggest fan. There are a lot of contenders, starting with her loyal mother, Oracene Price, and her devoted husband, Alex Ohanian, who attend almost all her matches.
But there’s no question about her cutest fan. That would be her daughter Olympia.
Olympia was in the US Open stands on both Monday and Wednesday nights, cheering on her mom.
Many observers noted that Olympia wore her hair in braids with white beads – the same hairstyle her mother famously sported in 1999 when she won her first Grand Slam tournament on this court in New York.
“It was either her wear beads or me,” Williams told reporters after Monday’s match. “I wanted to do it but I just didn’t have the time. She asks to wear beads a lot.”
Olympia is roughly the same age Serena was when she began learning tennis from her father, Richard Williams.
It’s clear that something very special is happening in New York this week as I arrived today.
From the day she burst onto the scene as a precocious teenager, and then became a grand slam champion at the age of 17, Serena Williams has always been a major draw, but this is different.
Her impending retirement means that tickets to her matches are now an extremely scarce commodity and such has been the demand to see her play that this US Open is set to surpass last year’s total attendance record by the time it hits the quarter finals — Serena Williams is the hottest ticket in sports.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium has been packed to the rafters for her first two singles matches so far, and for her opponents, it must feel like they’re stepping into the Lions Den; the challenge for Alja Tomljanović tonight will be to block out the hyper partisan crowd and to somehow forget the name of her opponent.
If she can do that, she might get to say that she ended the career of the greatest of all time.
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Serena Williams' dad wrote an 85-page plan for stardom. Here are the highlights from her iconic career.
From CNN's Matias Grez
Serena Williams’ father, Richard, started coaching her and older sister Venus when the pair were toddlers growing up in Compton.
It was immediately obvious to him – and pretty much everybody else – that he had two budding superstars on his hands.
“I went to my wife and told her we have two kids, they’re going to become rich and they’re going to become tennis players,” Richard Williams told CNN back in 2015.
Whatever Richard Williams wrote in those pages clearly worked.
The sisters went on to dominate women’s tennis, with Serena winning 23 grand slam singles titles, Venus seven and the pair teaming up for 14 grand slam doubles titles together.
