When sports fans and the industry itself look back on 2022, it will come as no surprise that the US Open will always be known as Serena Williams’ retirement tour.
Her career, coming to an end in Flushing Meadows as a titan of the thrilling sport known as tennis (and one of America’s top athletes ever), is lauded for its brilliance even as it will be known as a bittersweet moment in tennis history.
Since she won her first medal in New York in 1999, she has had the full support of American tennis, which played no small part in her Grand Slam victories that have totalled 23.
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Even if you are an incredible athlete, winning a Grand Slam Title isn’t easy—unless you’re Roger Federer. In fact, Federer won the Wimbledon and US Open titles four times in succession and successfully defended them three times.
It is genuinely amazing. His first came in 2004, when he defeated Andy Roddick to win at Wimbledon. Lleyton Hewitt was then defeated in New York. He again overcame Roddick in London in 2005, only for a four-set victory at the US Open to mark the end of Andre Agassi’s illustrious career.
Another male player worth mentioning is Novak Djokovic, who this season has walked away with his seventh Wimbledon win. Another historic moment occurred this year, when the first female player from Kazakhstan, Elena Rybakina also won at Wimbledon 2022.
The baton has always been passed on when an icon retires. So, even though no one in the tennis world thinks any of the newest generations of players can live up to Serena’s standards, don’t think US tennis is about to retreat into the shadows.
Although there are promising male athletes ready for the challenge like Taylor Fritz, now that Serena is on a new journey, the focus will naturally turn toward American female tennis players.
Not even including Serena and Venus Williams, the US has long been a force in women’s tennis. Most importantly, there is a strong feeling in the world of American tennis that opportunity is knocking this time.
World No. 1 Ash Barty announced her retirement in 2022, Serena Williams is quitting tennis, Naomi Osaka has had trouble maintaining stability, and even though Iga Swiatek is a favorite, recent performances have shown that she has weaknesses in her game that may be exploited.
New stars are always emerging, which is one of the most amazing aspects of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) development program for women’s tennis. Coco Gauff was a Wimbledon superstar when she was 15 years old, and three years later, after reaching a Grand Slam final this year, she is still getting even better.
This season, Danielle Collins advanced to the Australian Open final thanks to her talent. Madison Keys, who is ranked 20 in the world, has reached the final of three Slam tournaments and reached the semifinals once, while Sloan Stephens has previously won the US Open.
The 2019 French Open gave Amanda Anisimova her first-ever Slam semi-final experience, while Alison Riske and Jessica Pegula have each reached a Slam quarterfinal in their respective careers.
There are competitors worth keeping an eye on outside of the more well-known names, such as Emma Navarro, the daughter of business tycoon Ben Navarro, who is ranked No. 145 in the world.
The 21-year-old right-hander may be a late starter in comparison to some other players, such as Gauff, but she is one of a select group of players with the potential to become a star.
So, of course, losing Serena Williams, a role model for millions around the world for decades and an athlete who has forever changed how tennis is viewed and even played, would be detrimental to any sport.
However, in the eyes of the USTA, this just creates space for new talent that is waiting in the wings. The Slams are coming, and they might be here sooner than you think, because of the quality of players they have at their disposal.