Serena Williams will begin what will likely be the final event of her farewell tour on Monday at the US Open, where she will headline opening night against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro.
Williams, who announced her impending retirement from tennis three weeks ago, will play the 7pm ET (midnight SA time) match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she has won six of her 23 Grand Slam titles, in front of more than 23 000 cheering fans.
Despite being far from the form she possessed at the pinnacle of her storied career, the 40-year-old Williams will attempt to dominate Kovinic in their first career meeting with her signature blend of strong serves and groundstrokes.
At the final Grand Slam of 2022, Williams, who missed the US Open last year due to a leg injury and only returned to singles play at Wimbledon in June, will be experiencing intense emotions.
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Williams, who is also competing in the doubles competition with older sister Venus, revealed as much in the premiere edition of Meghan Markle’s ‘Archetypes’ podcast, which was broadcast last week. How can I refrain from crying?
Icon, legend, and motivation.
What would you say about Serena Williams? @WTA image: https://twitter.com/v4iqftboty
August 29, 2022: ATP Tour (@ATPTour)
“Perhaps if I can get through a couple of matches, I’ll feel better, but I think initially it will be difficult since every time I step onto the field is essentially my last.”
Despite the fact that facing Williams in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament was formerly one of the most intimidating undertakings in tennis, Kovinic may feel optimistic about her chances considering Williams’ current form.
Since declaring her impending retirement, Williams has lost every match she has played, falling in straight sets to Belinda Bencic in Toronto and then to US Open champion Emma Raducanu in Cincinnati.
Kovinic (27) has lost her previous five matches, but the aggressive baseliner will enter her matchup with Williams with a great deal of confidence due to her career-best performances at the two Grand Slam tournaments she participated in this year.
The Montenegrin got to the third round in both the Australian Open, where she defeated Raducanu in the second round, and the French Open, where she battled world No. 1 Iga Swiatek valiantly but fell short.
Kovinic attained her career-high ranking of No. 46 six years ago and is making her fifth appearance in the main draw at the US Open, where she reached the second round in 2015 and 2020.