When a tennis player is close to retirement, their physical ability makes it evident. They aren’t able to pull through anymore or have problems with athleticism. For Serena Williams, the signs became evident after her first childbirth. While she would go on to play four slam finals, she wouldn’t be able to win the tournaments. A press conference at the 2021 Australian Open made it even more clear that she was close to stepping away from the sport.

Williams has encountered many difficult moments in her life, on court and off court. Seldom has she been moved to tears, but after her exit from the first slam in 2021, the Queen of the Court was unable to hold a strong face.

Serena Williams moved to tears after Australian Open exit

While she faced difficulties in winning tournaments, Serena Williams managed to reach many finals. But her abilities deteriorated quickly after 2019. The first signs became evident in the 2020 season, and fans could see it again in the 2021 Australian Open semifinal. She faced Naomi Osaka and lost to her in straight sets due to many unforced errors. 

After her loss, she sat down for an interview, barely holding back her tears. As she answered the questions of the reporters, one asked her if it was her farewell to Melbourne. She replied, “I don’t know if I’d if I ever say farewell I wouldn’t tell anyone so”. She broke down in tears and left the conference after the next question.

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2021 was her final appearance in Australia, and Williams would then be remembered as the one who conquered the tournament seven times. Williams has been seen in tears on the court fewer times than one could count on their hands. The next time she broke down at a slam was when she retired from the sport. 

Williams moved to tears during a farewell speech

The Queen of the Court played her last tournament at the 2022 US Open and was eliminated in the third-round bout. She fought against Ajla Tomljanovic, who managed to get the best of her. Williams was moved to tears after her loss as she bid adieu to the sport she had dedicated her life to. She addressed her time looking back on tennis and thanked her supporters for being with her for over two decades.

The moment still lives on in the hearts of tennis fans, and it also won the Heart-Breaking Moment of the Year Award at Essentially Sports for the 2022 season. Williams has moved on from tennis and dived into other aspects of her career, but the sport still occupies a large place in her heart.

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