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Serena Williams says good-bye to Canada after defeat via Bencic

TORONTO: Serena Williams, who stated this week she is going to quickly name time on her storied tennis occupation, departed the WTA Toronto Masters for the final time Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Belinda Bencic. The second one-round defeat via Switzerland’s reigning Olympic gold medallist used to be infrequently surprising, with the 40-year-old Williams competing in handiest her 3rd event of 2022.

Bencic fired 8 aces and broke Williams two times within the first set and as soon as in the second one, advancing on her first event level after 78 mins. However as Bencic herself stated within the post-match interview on court docket: “This night is ready her.” Williams’s farewell on-court interview used to be threaded with emotion.

“I like taking part in right here, I’ve all the time beloved taking part in right here,” she stated, choking up as enthusiasts who cheered her all through the event known as out their appreciation. “I want I may have performed higher this night, however Belinda used to be taking part in so smartly.”

Williams, who turns 41 subsequent month, had crushed Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz on Monday for her first singles victory for the reason that 2021 French Open, 14 months in the past. However it despatched shockwaves throughout the recreation when she printed in an essay in Trend mag and an Instagram submit on Tuesday that “the countdown has begun” to her retirement from the game.

Williams didn’t specify a real retirement date however is anticipated to compete subsequent week in Cincinnati earlier than travelling to america Open, which begins on August 29. She has lifted america Open name six instances, together with her first Grand Slam triumph on the age of 17 in 1999.

“It’s been a beautiful fascinating 24 hours,” stated Williams, who stays one shy of the best-ever document of 24 Grand Slam singles titles gained via Margaret Court docket. “Like I stated in my article, I’m horrible at goodbyes,” she stated, her voice breaking.

“However, good-bye,” she stated, then including with fun “Toronto.” ‘A pleasure taking part in right here’ – “It’s been a pleasure taking part in right here all of the ones years.” Bencic stated the instance used to be “Overwhelming.” Williams’s event used to be preceded via a video tribute performed for enthusiasts. Ahead of she left the court docket she used to be introduced with jerseys from the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs-and with a kid’s model of the similar for daughter Olympia.

In explaining that she used to be “evolving away” from tennis within the Trend article, Williams stated she sought after to concentrate on circle of relatives existence and new industry ventures. Bencic stated the instance used to be “in point of fact overwhelming.” “It indubitably felt very particular to be on court docket together with her lately once more,” she stated “For me it used to be nice, nice, alternative.”

Williams’s look highlighted an afternoon that noticed US teen Coco Gauff-who says Williams used to be “the explanation why I play tennis”-overcome 13 double-faults to fight previous Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and into the 3rd around.

Gauff beat Rybakina 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/3) whilst global primary Iga Swiatek-who beat Gauff within the French Open last this year-sailed previous Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-2 in 55 mins. Swiatek, 21, stated she used to be “lovely unhappy” that she’s by no means had a possibility to play Williams, although within the American’s heyday “I’d most definitely be the participant that loses within the quarter-final in opposition to her.”

The Polish participant has gained six titles this yr, and when she misplaced within the 3rd around at Wimbledon it ended a 37-match unbeaten run. However she’s no longer certain she is going to ever scale the type of heights reached via Williams.

“Having the ability to more or less do industry and tennis on the similar time, but additionally be a mom and play smartly and do 4 Grand Slam finals, it’s superb,” Swiatek stated. “I feel no person goes to copy that. I’d feel free to have that trust that possibly I will do this.” – AFP

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