Sports
The sports icon capped off her 27-year tennis career with a beautiful shoutout to family and fans.
2, Anett Kontaveit.
If I wouldve just played a little bit better…
Thank you, Daddy.
I know youre watching.
Thanks, Mom, she added, getting emotional.
Just thank everyone thats here, thats been on my side for so many years.
Decades, oh my gosh, literally decades.
But it all started with my parents, and they deserve everything, so Im really grateful for them.
And from there, of course, she had to honor herbig sister and fellow tennis great Venus.
I wouldnt be Serena if there wasnt Venus, Williams added, so thank you, Venus.
Shes the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.
Gratitude was a common theme in her speech.
Im just so grateful to every single person thats ever said Go Serena in their life.
Im just so grateful because you got me here.
And count her opponent among that group of people.
Tomljanovic copped to feeling really sorry after beating Williams to keep her own U.S. Open hopes alive.
I love Serena just as much as you guys do, she said.
What shes done for me, for the sport of tennis is just incredible.
This is a surreal moment for me.
(She has never liked the wordretirement, she noted.)
Another big priority is her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures.
And its hard on the tennis world, too.
Venus said it well in an Instagram post the day after Williams final match.
No one has effected the game, or sport, the way she has.
Tennis wont be the same without its GOAT.
