*FAN SUBMISSION by Ryan Navarro of Altoona, PA.*
When Andy Roddick announced his retirement during the U.S. Open last year, there was a collective gasp from tennis fans around the country. Despite the nine-year slump since his only major victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, there was a shared feeling of sadness at the news of his departure. He had been the last American man to reach the top of the game following a succession of frontrunners, ranging from John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors to Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. As Roddick inevitably bowed out in the fourth round, his compatriot Serena Williams was breezing through the women’s draw on the way to her fourth singles title at Flushing Meadows.
A year older than Roddick, Serena has not indicated plans to hang up her racquets quite yet, as she continues to dominate the game she has ruled for more than a decade. As the oldest number one in history, she is producing the best tennis of her career, despite already securing a place among the greatest players of all time. So far this year, Serena has won her second French Open singles title during a 34-match winning streak in which she was unbeatable on every surface. She now holds 16 major singles titles and 13 major doubles titles, along with four Olympic gold medals. Her success is the result of hard work, determination, and a family dedicated to her success.
Richard Williams envisioned tennis as a way to open doors for his daughters as he drove them to the cracked and littered courts of Compton each day, and the youngest has taken full advantage of the opportunity. From the time Serena made her professional debut in 1995 at 14 years of age, her parents have instilled in her the belief that any obstacle can be overcome, and her resilience has shown countless times on and off the court. She bounced back stronger than ever after tragically losing her sister to gunfire in 2003 and again after almost losing her own life to a pulmonary embolism in 2011. Her storied comebacks have proven that she’s an even tougher player when forced to dig deep, and she has displayed some of her best tennis when up against the odds.
Courtesy: Sports Illustrated/CNN
Serena is a gritty competitor, with the ability to step up her level of play in the big moments. She has the confidence to go for her shots at times when others would simply wilt under the pressure, especially when she’s down on the sport’s biggest stages. She has a 6-0 record in three-set Grand Slam finals and has saved match points on her way to capturing major titles on three separate occasions. If she’s playing at the top of her game, Serena’s unmatched skills leave a hopeless feeling in her opponents. She believes that she’s the player to beat in an ever weakening field, and few are rising to the challenge that her dominant persona presents.
The true test for Serena comes now. As the WTA Tour celebrates its 40th anniversary, she is seeking to overcome not only her challengers across the net, but generations of prominent names in the record books, including Margaret Court, Billy Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Steffi Graf. Many tennis experts believe she has already proven herself to be the best ever, and lifting another trophy at the year’s final major would be the icing on the cake of a terrific career. Let’s applaud Serena’s talent before she follows in Roddick’s footsteps and leaves us searching for the next American champion.
