Serena Williams introduced on Tuesday the countdown to her retirement had begun from tennis after a profession which introduced her 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Look at six of her most memorable finals on the majors:
1999 US Open
— Just 17 years outdated, the primary of her Slam titles got here at Flushing Meadows courtesy of a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over Switzerland’s Martina Hingis. Williams had defeated the likes of Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles and 1998 champion Lindsay Davenport on the way in which. She was additionally the primary black lady to win a serious since Althea Gibson in 1958.
“It’s really amazing for me just to even have an opportunity to be compared as great as Althea Gibson. She was a great player. It’s pretty exciting for me,” she mentioned.
2002 French Open
— Serena needed to wait one of the best a part of three years to win a second Slam with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over sister Venus within the ultimate at Roland Garros. Venus had gained the sisters’ solely different earlier assembly in a serious ultimate in New York in 2001.
“I am so happy to have won my second Grand Slam in three years, but obviously I am also a little bit sad for my sister,” mentioned Serena who went on to win the French Open once more in 2013 and 2015.
The 2002 title match in Paris was the primary of 4 consecutive Slam finals between the sisters with Serena successful all 4.
2003 Australian Open
— Williams wins her first Australian Open and completes the ‘Serena Slam’ after an epic 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 win in opposition to Venus.
The world primary grew to become solely the fifth lady in historical past to carry all 4 Slams on the identical time after Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf.
“I can’t believe that I can be compared to these women, to be in their category is really amazing,” she mentioned.
“I am making history right now, it doesn’t happen every day.”
2003 Wimbledon
— Serena and Venus met in 4 Wimbledon finals however the 2003 duel was the closest. Venus battled gallantly regardless of an belly harm and hip downside earlier than dropping 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“She’s tougher than I ever thought she was,” mentioned Serena. “I knew she was tough but she’s gone on to a whole different level. To play today knowing she was injured, she’s definitely up there with the real fighters and champions.”
2012 Wimbledon
— Williams defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 for a fifth Wimbledon title and 14th on the Slams.
However, the achievement was much more outstanding because the American had been sidelined for a 12 months between 2010 and 2011 with a leg harm and a pulmonary embolism.
“I can’t even describe it. I almost didn’t make it a few years ago. I was in hospital but now I’m here again and it was so worth it. I’m so happy.”
2017 Australian Open
— Her twenty third and most up-to-date Slam triumph got here in Melbourne with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Venus achieved whereas pregnant with daughter Olympia.
A seventh Australian Open title allowed the 35-year-old to additionally reclaim the world primary rating.
It was the sisters’ twenty eighth profession assembly and ninth in Slam finals.
“There’s no way I would be at 23 without Venus. She’s my inspiration,” Serena mentioned.
The sisters went on to play one another twice extra with Serena seeing off Venus of their final assembly, fittingly on the US Open within the third spherical in 2018.
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