Williams' dream ends in the quarterfinals: can the legends still shine?

Williams' dream ends in the quarterfinals: can the legends still shine?

Venus Williams, the former tennis great, announced today that she is leaving the doubles competition at the US Open. In the quarterfinals, the 45-year-old, who played together with Canadian Leylah Fernandez, had to admit defeat to the first-seeded duo Taylor Townsend from the USA and Katerina Siniakova from the Czech Republic. The match ended 1:6, 2:6 and lasted a total of 56 minutes. The appearance marked Williams' first Grand Slam appearance in two years after taking a 16-month break.

With great appreciation, Williams received a standing ovation from the audience after the game. Both Townsend and Siniakova praised the tennis legend. Townsend, who cited the Williams sisters as a source of inspiration, expressed how meaningful it was for her to compete against such a great athlete. Siniakova called Williams “a legend” and spoke of a privilege playing against her. Despite the defeat, Williams emphasized that she was proud to be back on the court after a long break and wanted to continue playing tennis actively. She had received wildcards for the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competition at the US Open and remained without losing a set in her first doubles game alongside Fernandez.

The return to the big stage

Williams' return to tournaments was a remarkable moment after a long career break. Her last major competition was the 2023 US Open. During her comeback, she also competed in singles and mixed doubles, but was eliminated in the first round of the singles and mixed doubles competitions. Despite these setbacks, she set herself the goal of continuing to play at a high level. Her participation at Flushing Meadows has now spanned a career spanning 28 years since her debut. This makes her the oldest competitor in singles since Renee Richards.

In the upcoming semifinals, Townsend and Siniakova will face number four seeds Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens. The tournament shows how the competition in women's tennis has developed and which young talents can continue to shine on the big stage.

With a total of 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and seven singles titles, Williams is one of the most successful tennis players in history. Despite the challenges and the painful defeats in this US Open, she remains a role model for many and an integral part of the tennis landscape.

The further development of the tournament also leaves room for other top players, including number two Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who will face Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. The women's doubles tournament remains exciting and shows the diversity of talent and the strength of the competition.

Overall, Williams' performance was a symbol of perseverance and passion in the sport, a reminder that the tennis court is also a place for remarkable returns.