CINCINNATI — Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam champion, likely competed for the last time in the state of Ohio.
Williams lost to 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open, her first match of the competition. The 40-year-old had never lost in the first round at Western & Southern, but 19-year-old Raducanu said at a press briefing earlier this week she’s ready and excited to play against Williams.
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity to play one of the best tennis, probably the best tennis player of all time. You know it’s probably going to be my last opportunity to play her," Raducanu said. "I’m really fortunate I get to play her, and I think whatever happens I think it’s going to be an incredible experience for me, and something I will really probably remember for the rest of my life."
Raducanu added her first memory of Williams is when she was seven. She said her first tennis coach took her to Wimbledon, and she watched Williams “annihilate” her opponent.
The world No. 10 beat Williams 6-4, 6-0 in the most anticipated match of the tournament. The match was supposed to happen Monday, but in a statement, Western & Southern said it got moved to Tuesday on an “account of a number of factors related to scheduling.”
Williams is set to retire after the U.S. Open.
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