Serena Williams Leaves Door Open to Wimbledon 2023
US Open
September 3, 2022
Serena Williams was supposed to make her defeat at the US Open the final curtain.
It was epic stuff as she saved five match points and played for more than three hours in front of adoring thousands on a packed Arthur Ashe.
But in the end the killer cross-court forehand of Ajla Tomljanovic had done too much damage and the Australian triumphed 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1.
We saw Serena cry and we heard her thank her parents and sister Venus with such heartfelt emotion. Then came that inevitable question about retirement. Would she reconsider?
‘I don’t think so but you never know,’ she replied.
You never know.
Serena had suddenly left a glimmer of hope for a comeback at Wimbledon 2023.
‘I was literally playing my way in and wish I’d started earlier this year,’ she said of her US Open build-up.
That doesn’t sound like someone who feels she has played her last match and has nothing left.
Serena knows the magic is still there. She also knows Wimbledon 2023 and the glorious grass awaits if she feels like making a dramatic comeback.
Looking at her defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic, she will know it could have been victory.
She served for the first set. The tie-break in the second brought tennis from the heavens – and suddenly Serena was at the height of her powers once more.
She was 40-15 up to go 2-0 ahead in the decider and consolidate her early break. Maybe she saw the finishing line – and that dangerous mental leap finished her.
Whatever the psychological subplot, the Serena first serve then went agonisingly awry.
But have we really seen the last of Serena Williams? Or will Wimbledon 2023 become the venue for her last hurrah? Only time will tell.
Andy Murray will take his final bow on Centre Court at Wimbledon 2023, his former coach Mark Petchey speculated.
Petchey was calling the Serena match for Amazon Prime. Yet it was Murray who seemed to remain on his mind.
A fitting end for Andy at Wimbledon 2023 was the scenario Petchey openly foresaw, after the brave-heart Scot was edged out in New York by the amiable Matteo Berrettini.
The Italian won their contest 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3. ‘He served well and I didn’t,’ Murray observed succinctly afterwards. ‘But physically I felt good here.’
That means Murray will feel increasingly confident about his chances of going deep at Wimbledon 2023.
And so will Jack Draper, who was getting the better of Karen Khachanov before a thigh injury turned events and forced the young Brit to retire hurt.
All roads point to greater heroics at Wimbledon 2023. But will Serena be there too?
You can make sure you’re on Centre Court with us to see so many greats on show.