Serena Williams is anticipated to hold up her tennis racket for good after defeat on the US Open and a few of the largest names in historical past of sport have rushed to pay tribute to her legendary profession.
The 40-year-old has not dominated out taking to the court docket once more, however defeat to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in New York seems to be her remaining match.
The American has gained 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 extra within the doubles with sister Venus, as she goes down as not solely one of many biggest to ever play tennis, however one of many best sportspeople ever to carry out.
Unsurprisingly there have been numerous tributes to some of the iconic sportspeople in historical past, with fellow legends sending heartfelt messages.
Billie Jean King tweeted: ‘Her unimaginable profession made its mark on tennis historical past. And but her biggest contributions could also be but to come back.
‘Thanks, Serena Williams. Your journey continues.’
Tiger Woods added: ‘@serenawilliams you’re actually the best on and off the court docket. Thanks for uplifting all of us to pursue our goals. I like you little sis!!!!!!’
Basketball legend LeBron James despatched a video message to the retiring star, saying: ‘Wow, the place do I begin? To begin with congratulations to you for an unbelievable profession. You’re a GOAT.
‘What you’ve performed for the game of tennis, what you’ve performed for girls and what you’ve performed for the class of sport, interval, is unprecedented.
‘It’s been an honour to observe your journey. To observe you conquer all of the targets that you simply ever set out. To see you break data, to see you simply be superb and transcend the tennis court docket.
‘I may sit right here and speak about your journey and watching you from afar and our relationship now for an hour, however I don’t wish to bore you an excessive amount of about stuff you already know.
‘I simply wish to say thanks for being an inspiration for therefore many and displaying the world, each time you have been on the market, that you simply’re the best, win, lose or draw.
‘I want you nothing however the biggest journey forward of you. You will have been unbelievable and I salute you.’
Present American tennis star Coco Gauff gained her third spherical recreation in New York on Friday and tweeted after: ‘Serena, THANK YOU. It’s due to you I imagine on this dream. The impression you’ve had on me goes past any phrases that may be put collectively and for that I say thanks, thanks, thanks, GOAT!’
Naomi Osaka, who famously beat Williams to win the 2018 US Open stated: ‘Her legacy is basically vast, to the purpose the place you may’t actually describe it in phrases.
‘She modified the game a lot, she’s launched those that have by no means heard of tennis into the game. I feel I’m a product of what she’s performed. I wouldn’t be right here with out Serena, Venus, her complete household. I’m very grateful to her.’
Andy Murray added: ‘Her achievements throughout the sport are clearly unimaginable, she is going to go down as probably the greatest tennis gamers to have ever performed, if not one of the best on the ladies’s facet.’
Lastly, Rafael Nadal stated: ‘Not only a tennis participant, she’s been some of the essential athletes within the historical past of the game. From the tennis perspective, it’s an enormous loss that she is leaving, however alternatively, she deserves all of the issues she achieved.’
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