Serena Williams had the most beautiful retirement in the history of tennis. She retired from the sport after playing her part in the US Open. After losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third phase of the US Open by scores of 7-5, 6-7(4), and 6-1, Serena Williams’ 25-year career as a professional tennis player came to an end.

Serena Williams’ legacy on and off the court is always admired by her fans. Her friendship, her fights, and her achievements are all that she is known for today. 

At the 2017 Australian Open, the American defeated her sister Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 to claim the last of her 23 singles Grand Slam championships. In the Open Era, she now holds the record for having won more Major singles titles than Steffi Graf.

Kelly Rowland’s fangirl moment 

The first time when American Singer Kelly Rowland met Serena Williams, after a concert, she invited her to the match. When Serena invited her she also said “I’m going to be really good.” “As soon as she said that, I was struck by her,” Rowland complimented. 

She recalled sitting in Serena’s box during such a match while she was behind by a set. She said, “Something’s about to happen. It’s watching her get upset, like we do as people, and then understanding she had to calm herself down. It was her having this controlled kind of space she had made for herself. And then it was about her dominating. And it was so unapologetic. It wasn’t anything she had to say. It was like, ‘I’m about to take back what’s mine.’ I needed that at that moment. It fed me.” 

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She was awestruck by Serena Williams’ aura and was mesmerized by her fan following. Owing to this, she added, “You feel an energy shift.”

Serena Williams once turned her rivalry into friendship

Tennis great Caroline Wozniacki, is one of Serena’s closest friends. Between 2005 and 2020, the former Australian Open champion competed with and frequently challenged the American icon. However, her conflict with the Americans gradually gave way to a close friendship.

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Serena and Caroline battled each other 11 times on the court, with Serena winning 10 and Caroline just 1. Serena defeated her rival in the US Open 2014 final, which she won in straight sets with a double 6-3. Only the Miami Open 2012 quarterfinal match was won by Wozniacki, who prevailed 6-4, 6-4.

Beyond their competitive sports relationships, Williams and Wozniacki have developed their connection.