NEW DELHI: For the first time since quitting tennis two years ago, Serena Williams, the 23-time major winner, attended the US Open as a fan on Saturday, electrifying Flushing Meadows.
Over her career, the six-time champion conquered New York, and in the third round of the 2022 event, she played her final match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in Flushing Meadows, an appropriately emotional farewell.
On Saturday, she looked very relaxed and happy as she walked the blue carpet wearing a denim outfit, grinning for the cameras and making peace signals, as per Reuters.
"I feel like to me she's always been that upbeat and happy person. Obviously we're all in the zone when we're about to compete, and so that's different when you don't play anymore," said Caroline Wozniacki, Williams' longtime friend.
"But at the end of the day, I think she's always been, you know, a happy and outgoing person."
Before the Pole's third-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Williams was seen conversing with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the players' gym. Later, she was observed in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she played her final match.
The American witnessed American Jessica Pegula defeat Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Italian first seed Jannik Sinner defeat Australian Chris O'Connell.
After defeating French qualifier Jessica Ponchet in her third-round match at the Grandstand, Wozniacki-who had Williams as a bridesmaid in her own wedding-joked that she was "pretty mad" that Williams had missed her match.
"Serena is obviously still very busy. I think when you've been such incredible at something, I think you'll always have the opportunity, you'll always be great at whatever you put your mind to," said Wozniacki.
"I love hanging with her. I love talking to her. You know, I love the support that I get from her, as well."
