It has been many months since the GOAT of women’s tennis, Serena Williams, retired. However, her legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of her millions of fans. The power of Serena Williams does not lie in her 23 grand slams (although no person has ever won more in the Open Era). It lies in the fact that she was a black woman who had to face the twin prejudices of sexism and racism, who had to fight poverty and still became the greatest women’s tennis player to ever pick up a racket.
We miss you, Serena
Recently, a fan posted a throwback picture of Serena Williams on Instagram, captioned with the lyrics from an Ahmad song. The song is called “Back in the Day”, and it is essentially a nostalgic tribute to the time in our lives when we had no responsibilities, fears or worries.
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The use of the song’s lyrics in the aforementioned Instagram post is probably a reference to the time when Serena Williams was young and winning everything in women’s tennis.
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Dominant sports people, especially those who play on for decades, often come to represent a generation or an epoch. In India, Sachin Tendulkar remained as a reassuring presence for 24 years, an unchanging cog in the national cricket team that the nation looked up to for sustenance.
What does Serena mean to us?
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Not only did she achieve almost everything inside the court, but she was outspoken in her views and lent her voice to the oppressed and dispossessed of America. Her tenacity, indefatigability and perseverance were best shown when she became the oldest woman to win the Australian Open, while being pregnant at the same time.
Watch this Story: Childhood Coach Makes Enticing Prophecy on Serena Williams Retirement U-Turn With Sister Venus Williams Reference
Serena was magic on and off the court and she extended a dominance over her sport that has rarely been seen in history. She was by far the best player of her generation and perhaps of any generation, with no serious rival against her for many years in tennis.
Serena Williams is not only one of the greatest athletes of all time. She is also an inspiring role model and a force for change. She was a lodestar in the tennis world for decades. Her name will be tattooed on the hearts of every tennis fan for generations to come.