Serena clocked her 107th match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium weeks after she announced that she was planning on retiring from the sport.
Match Highlights:
The crowd was excited to see Williams play and look like she was in top form a few weeks before her 41st birthday. She becomes the fourth woman in the Open Era to win Grand Slam matches in her 20s, 30s, and 40s.
She keeps her undefeated US Open opening round record. She has also only ever dropped 2 sets, once in 1998 against Nicole Pratt and again in 2001 against Anca Barna.
Brands and publications alike have been honoring Williams left and right. Gatorade changed their social media logos to an S and Time Magazine featured her on its cover with the headline The Greatest.
She stepped onto the court in a custom-designed Nike Outfit that pays homage to her six US Open titles. It was also covered in 400 hand-set diamonds.
The match felt like a championship bout with popular faces in the crowd that included Bill Clinton, Hugh Jackman, Gladys Knight, and Spike Lee.
There was also a post-match ceremony hosted by Gayle King.
“I always just feel so comfortable on this court, she said. When I step on the court I just want to do the best I can. The crowd was crazy. It really helped pull me through.”
“It’s been such a hard decision. Because when you’re passionate about something, love something so much its hard to walk away. I was just like all right, now’s the time. There’s other chapters in life.”
Its going to be Serena 2.0.