Serena Williams’ first opponent at what she has indicated will be her last U.S. Open & tournament of her career , is unseeded Danka Kovinic.
Serena Williams : US Open 2022 | Danka Kovinic
Turning professional in 1995, she won her first major singles title at the 1999 US Open.
| Singles | |
|---|---|
| Career record | 856–154 (84.8%) |
| Career titles | 73 (5th in overall rankings) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (July 8, 2002) |
From the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open, she was dominant, winning all four major singles titles (each time over Venus in the final) to achieve a non-calendar year Grand Slam and the career Grand Slam, known as the “Serena Slam”.
The next few years saw her claim two more singles majors, but suffer from injury and decline in form.
Beginning in 2007, however, she gradually returned to form despite continued injuries, retaking the world No. 1 singles ranking.
Beginning at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, Williams returned to dominance, claiming Olympic gold and becoming the first tennis player to achieve a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
Serena Williams US Open 2022
After a glittering 27-year professional career in which she became one of the greatest players of all time, Serena Williams is preparing to bid farewell to tennis at the major where it all began.
The 40-year-old sporting icon ended the guessing game surrounding her future earlier this month by revealing that the “countdown” to her retirement had started, with her final Grand Slam appearance coming at next week’s US Open in New York.
“There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction,” Williams wrote. “That time is always hard when you love something so much.
“But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just (as) exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.”
That announcement set the stage for what will be an emotional farewell for Williams, who won the first of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles as a 17-year-old at the 1999 US Open, beating Martina Hingis in the final.
Danka Kovinic
Serena Williams will face Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in her first round match at the US Open following the draw for the tournament made on Thursday.
Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam title winner who has hinted she will make the event her farewell tournament, is in the same quarter of the draw as second seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.
The 40-year-old American superstar, whose first Grand Slam title came at the 1999 US Open, would meet Kontaveit in the second round if both win their opening matches at the year’s final Grand Slam event, which begins Monday.
Williams, who is one title shy of the all-time record 24 Slam crowns won by Margaret Court, could have quite a path to the final were she to make a shock run on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.
Leave a Reply