For Christopher Clarey, a journalist for the New York Times and author of The Master (a recently published biography of Roger Federer’s career), Serena Williams’ match against reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu was an unpleasant experience for those who they were used to the American’s old level of tennis.
“For those who remember Serena’s finest hour, this was a painful sight (unless you were there to see Raducanu). For now, Serena’s farewell tour seems like a good idea too late. Last chance for one last hurray: the US Open,” Christopher Clarey wrote on Twitter.
In the highly anticipated match between Williams and Raducanu, the latter won 6-4 6-0 in 65 minutes. Against Williams’ 60%, the Briton won 76% of her first serve points. While the 2021 Flushing Meadows champion won 75% of her second serve points, Williams had a big problem, winning just 12% of her second serve points.
Raducanu only dropped serve from her once during the match, but she converted five of the nine break points she faced on serve from the two-time former Cincinnati champion. Williams recorded five more winners than Raducanu, but Raducanu only made one unforced error, while the American made 18.
According to the New York Times description, “Christopher Clarey has covered world sports for The New York Times for more than 25 years from his bases in France, Spain and the United States. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on tennis and has reported on more than 90 Grand Slam tournaments, recounting the major figures and issues of the Open era and interviewing everyone from Bjorn Borg to Serena Williams.”
Serena will retire after the US Open
Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair has heaped praise on Serena Williams. “She’s potentially the greatest female athlete of all time. I think the way she’s conducted herself through this transition, it’s like with grace.
I think it’s how it should be done,” Sinclair said. “Look at how many very successful athletes have gone on to have very, very successful careers post-sports. I think sometimes the term retirement, I don’t know for me, I picture some 70-year-old person retiring from their nine-to-five job.
Athletes have so much to give after their sport,” she added. “I really like the way that Serena’s turned it into a positive and turned it into, like, there’s so much more to come. What we do on the field or the court, it’s such a small part of what we are and who we are,” she concluded.
