Serena Williams has marked her name on the sport forever. However, apart from records, people adore her for having a brave and independent say on social matters. Although the 23-time Grand Slam champion dedicated most of her life to tennis, she wasn’t neglectful of others’ suffering. Especially during a national crisis like the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

She has always lived to the title of legend. However, the attack that took the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians filled the otherwise mentally strong Serena with fear. But keeping true to her straightforwardness, she expressed that feeling as well.

Serena Williams about the 9/11 attack

The legendary 23-time Grand Slam champion, 10 years after the incident that shook the entire world, shared her thoughts that were in her mind at that time. She recalled the day after a hijacked northeast US to Carolina airliner crashed into the twin towers. Serena said, “I was in D.C., and there were just Army trucks everywhere. And I was really scared, and it was just — it was almost like, I guess, a war scene, because the whole streets were filled with these huge tanks. I remember thinking, Oh, my gosh, this is crazy.”

Thereafter, she added, “Time flies so fast. You know, 10 years since September 11th is time where I think all Americans really kind of reminisce. It’s a moment I don’t think any American can forget.” One can say that the tragic incident affected the former World no.1 like countless others.

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Serena had only one Grand Slam title by then and was still climbing up the rankings table. Not to forget, she faced a defeat in the final against elder sister Venus Williams in the US Open in 2001 as well. Though showcasing her mental strength, the American like her homeland, bounced back and aced the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open next year.

Serena’s farewell after a 27-year dominant career

The six-time US Open champion decided to say goodbye to her career after making a comeback from a year long injury and enrolled in her home Grand Slam. She stepped on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows for one last time as a professional tennis player. Serena started her journey by taking down the former World no.46 Danka Kovinić in straight sets of 6-3 6-3.

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Then she surprised everyone by defeating the World no.2 Anett Kontaveit. The 40-year-old took down the second seed of the tournament in a three set long match. However, she failed to enter the second week of the tournament as the Australian Ajla Tomljanović marked the end of her career in the Arthur Ashe Stadium by claiming a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-1 win.