The world was riveted by Serena Williams' rumoured farewell match as various celebrities paid tribute to the tennis legend on social media late on Friday. Williams, who is regarded as one of the best athletes to have ever competed in the sport, was eliminated from the 2022 U.S. Open after falling to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.
Williams, who turns 41 this month, recently declared that she was "moving" away from competitive tennis after an illustrious career that saw her win 23 Grand Slam titles, second only to Margaret Court's 24. Williams was in tears and claimed it was doubtful she would change her mind about quitting the game after Friday's defeat.
Venus Williams, a female tennis superstar and older sister of Serena Williams, was also singled out for appreciation by the athlete. After the match, she told the crowd, "She's the sole reason that Serena Williams ever exists." The brothers were the focus of the Warner Bros. film King Richard a year ago, which showed the actors when they were younger and won Will Smith an Oscar for his portrayal of their father, Richard Williams. Samuel L. Jackson was one of the stars who hailed Serena Williams' effort against Tomljanovic on Twitter after the match. The actor wrote, "You're going out scrapping, just as you came in."
Also weighing in was Michelle Obama, who tweeted, in part, “How lucky were we to be able to watch a young girl from Compton grow up to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. I’m proud of you, my friend — and I can’t wait to see the lives you continue to transform with your talents.” Other messages from celebrities from both the entertainment and sports worlds are included below, including those from John Legend, LeBron James, Jennifer Hudson, Shonda Rhimes, Tiger Woods, and Billie Jean King.
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