Williams announced what she referred to as her evolution – she has never liked the word retirement – away from tennis in a first-person essay for Vogue that was published after her first-round win in the tournament.
The farewell ceremony fit for a legend such as Williams did not have to wait much longer, though, as the 40-year-old 23-time Grand Slam champion bowed out to Belinda Bencic in the second round.
Williams, who is expected to retire after the US Open, then thanked and bid adieu to the sellout crowd of 12,500 fans.
Canadian Open tournament director Karl Hale said that Williams’ impending retirement was both celebratory and sad, because one would like the American tennis great to “keep playing forever.”
Hale also said that although he had an “inclination” about Williams’ retirement, he had no idea that the announcement would come on Tuesday.
He added that Williams was a “gracious person” as he recalled memories of the three-time Canadian Open winner.
“Now she’s looking forward to three weeks of very interesting engagement upon her retirement” - Karl Hale recalls post-second-round match conversation with Serena Williams
Canadian Open director Karl Hale continued to speak about Serena Williams, who began her farewell tour at the tournament.
Asked if he had the chance to speak to Williams before she left, Hale said that the former long-time No. 1 felt she played “really well” in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and that she was looking forward to the next three weeks.
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