Serena Williams said she was happy with the impact she had on tennis and wished to be remembered as a fighter as she officially finished her historic career at the US Open on Friday.

Serena Williams said farewell to Flushing Meadows on Friday, losing in the third round against Ajla Tomljanovic.

Williams, a passionate competitor, has always found it difficult to accept defeat, so her 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 loss to the 46th-ranked Australian must have hurt deeply.

Her three matches at the US Open this year, capped by a victory against world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in the second round, were a gift to her fans. She displayed the unwavering, never-say-die mentality that made her the sport’s top player for more than 20 years up until the very last point.

After her defeat, Williams told reporters, “Clearly I’m still capable.” 

“But it takes a lot more than that,” she accepted. 

“I’m ready to be a mom, explore a different version of Serena. Technically in the world I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking. I have such a bright future ahead of me.

“The fight, I’m such a fighter,” she responded when asked how she wanted to be remembered following her third-round loss.

“I feel like I really brought something to tennis, a different look, the fist pumps, the just crazy intensity. Passion is a really good word.”

She thanked family, friends, and fans for an “incredible journey”

“Honestly I am so grateful that I had this moment and that I’m Serena.”

The 2015 French Open, when she struggled through terrible flu symptoms to complete her second “Serena Slam” – four straight Grand Slam wins – was a career highlight for the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Image Credit: Getty

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