Hey, Joe! Are you planning to write any about Francis Tiafoe? Seems like an incredible story and was amazing to watch him beat Nadal. Would love to read your thoughts.
Joe, I don’t know a thing about tennis, but you make it mythical and epic. And a great read as you illuminate human weaknesses and strengths. Thank you.
A wonderful moment in time captured well, Joe. For me, without question, Serena is one of the greatest athletes of our time. I totally respect her tenacity, resilience, skill set, biz acumen and most importantly, her leadership and modelling the possibilities for other young Black athletes ( and so many others) who have succeeded and will succeed as a result. So great to see the uncommon diversity in the stands, not so great to have so many New Yorkers cheer Ajla's mistakes but re the NYC crowd, not new when so many show up because the Open is the place to be rather than a great tennis event. Serena noted in the Vogue article that she was unconcerned about her legacy. Really? False humility obviously but i do not begrudge that. Healthy ego? Yes, no issues for me. As Walt Whitman noted " if you've done it, it ain't bragging." My takeaway? The Open folks went overboard regarding the "farewell". All about ratings, money rules. Serena enjoyed it all as part of a process of evolving. A kind of public therapy and i get that. So for me, an incredible moment with Serena displaying her grit in the last game. And a post-game commentary from Ajla that was brilliantly and gracefully offered up from someone deserving of her place in history as the one who ended one of the best stories in history.
Time might catch up to the greatest athletes at some point, but when it comes to our greatest sports writers, they age like the finest of wines...
We who read you know your love of tennis... and how you love to write about the biggest moments. To so gracefully write this story that both captures the love affair for Serena while shining the light on Tomljanovic and her story is such a joy to read. What's more, the way you weaved her success as being so directly influenced by Serena, it's just next level story telling and sharing an event in a way most of us won't read anywhere else or would have even considered an option.
This to me is one of the best and most important sports stories I'll read about anything in a long while. Because you made me think... not only about this version of events, but to look for the untold story, the hidden grace, the other side during the events of my life as well as other arenas of life. It'll help me to appreciate the stories, the humanity, the efforts that so many of bring to the world everyday, even when I find myself on the other side of an opinion, a competition or argument.
"Serena Williams is the most iconic American athlete of our lifetimes." That's quite a statement, what with Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, etc. all being within the lifetime of Joe and many of his readers - including me. Maybe Joe has a different definition of iconic than I have?
I watched the match, rooting hard for Serena. My wife, who is a dedicated tennis player, has always loved Serena. For some reason, I never really warmed up to her (Serena, not my wife). But, once you are over the hill yourself, it is always a thrill to watch someone waging a desperate fight against the relentless tide of time. Serena was obviously not in prime condition, old and out of shape and overweight (for an athlete, not a normal person). On the other hand, her opponent, Ajla Tomljanovic, was apparently in fantastic shape, still bouncing on her heels in the third and final set. Tomljanonovic looked like she trained for a marathon, not a tennis match. Ajla relentlessly wore down Serena. It was, in its own way, a beautiful thing to watch. When the match was over, Serena perfunctorily shook Tomljanovic's hand. Serena then basked in the attention, applause and love from the crowd. She then made a somewhat strange speech, thanking her father and mother and sister (oddly finally thanking her husband and daughter way down the list, almost like an afterthought). But the speech was basically just focused on herself and her story. While all this went on and on, Ajla Tomljanovic, who actually won the match, just sat and watched. Serena Williams never once looked at Ajla. Never acknowledged her in her strange rambling speech. The final camera shot was Serena heading off the court, never looking back, with Ajla Tomljanovic watching her in the background. If she had any real class or grace, Williams should have realized that the moment included people other than herself. But Serena ended her career with, basically, an astonishing display of narcissism. It's all about her. And I finally realized why I had never really been able to root for her that much. Then came the kicker. Ajla Tomljanovic got to speak. And she spoke with dignity and grace about Serena, despite the fact the Serena had just ignored her like some spit on the highway of Serena's life. Good riddance to Serena until her inevitable narcissistic comeback. On the other hand, I wish nothing but the best for Ajla in the future. I did not even know who she was before last night, never even heard her name in passing. But, after her extraordinary display of class and grace, I will now always remember Ajla and root for her. I hope Ajla Tomljanovic wins the bloody US Open, patriotism be damned.
Excellent comment, especially the line about the "inevitable narcissistic comeback." I've never liked Serena, from the early days of overpowering my favorite player (Hingis) to the sore losing ("she didn't beat me I beat myself") to the Vogue article whining about the unfairness of womanhood (and blaming her child for preventing more potential trophies), and on to the narcissistic finale. The media are terrified to not share in the adulation, because Serena is female and a "person of color." Joe succumbed to this as well with his ridiculous statement that she is the most iconic American athlete of our lifetimes. I'm no fan of MJ, but get with the program, Joe.
I agree with you on the whole. I do find Serena to be unlikable at times when she's losing. Think back to her yelling at a judge that she'll shove the ball down her throat or her meltdown at the US Open final a couple years ago against Osaka.
Your "unlikeable at times" comment hits the nail right on the head. I don't really have an axe to grind with Serena Williams. As far as athletes go, Serena Williams is probably a kinder better person than most. But who really knows? I do remember Serena consoling a young opponent a couple of years after destroying her in straight sets. But it's not that hard to show compassion when you have just won overwhelmingly and some poor girl is bawling her eyes out. Serena had a chance to show true class at the 2022 US Open and just missed it (like many of her shots that night). Instead, Serena just stayed on Brand. The contrast of Serena's self-absorption with the grace that Ajla Tomljanovic showed was simply jarring. But how many people miss these chances in real life? Probably most everyone. And athletes, whose focus on honing their physical gifts has usually stunted their emotional development, are at a severe disadvantage. But her lack of empathy right then was really disappointing, even if actually understandable (she lost, her career may be over, she's moving on, etc). And it stopped me from truly celebrating her greatness. On the other hand, its hard not to compare Serena to the tennis "idols" of my youth: Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. Has Serena ever even approached the level of immature professional dickishness of these two men? [Or, perhaps a better question would be: "Has any female tennis player ever acted as childishly as these two blockheads used to?]. But everyone is a mixed bag. At times, I have certainly enjoyed some of McEnroe's antics. I am sure that, at some time of her life, Ajla Tomljanovic has been unkind to someone. But the decency that Ajla showed, after what had to be a highlight of her life, to Serena was quite illuminating. Go Ajla!
I agree with much of what you've written here, but I would ask you to consider Serena's care for and generosity towards Naomi Osaka at the end of their 2018 US Open final. After Serena melted down and a loyal and belligerent crowd reacted with anger, Serena saw that Naomi couldn't even enjoy the biggest moment of her then-budding career and comforted the new and young champion and asked the crowd to celebrate Naomi's achievement. That kind of in-the-now unselfishness was certainly never demonstrated by the Nastases, McEnroes, and Connors in their era.
The best part of any women's tennis major is when Serena Williams loses and so I and many of us were rooting for Aija. We were rooting against Serena becuase she has made herself hard to root for. So Joe's comment that we all were rooting for Serena is strange. Her costume was bizarre and she is just ntot a very likable character. I think mostly that as many root for Serena as against her. Glad she is off the tour and out of the tournement.
Serena played much better than I expected and she went out fighting like the true champion she is. Despite having the crowd completely against her, Tomljanovic handled herself admirably on the court and off, in her post-match interview. She was composed and graceful. The crowd, on the other hand ... Well, I get desperately wanting Serena to win. But cheering Tomljanovic's faults and double faults. Complete silence on her incredible cross-court forehand winners that had Serena flat-footed. Not so admirable. And the U.S. Open should have had the interview of Tomljanovic first instead of having her wait around for the (deserved) celebration of Serena.
so hard to believe this amazing career comes to an end... truly, in the Womens game, Serena is the GOAT!!! and gawd, how much were we all pulling for her to summon forth one more epic run and make this US Open her 24th? alas, it was not to be; thank you, Serena for so, so much- what a true champion for all time!!!
Steffi lost a potential great rival in Seles and then also Hingis foot issue. Although Henin and Clijsters made life choices taking away potential great matches with Serena, maybe they didn't have the will to keep fighting those battles which is credit to Serena. Navratilova was great and had a great rival challenging her.
What I give to Serena though is she brought power and aggression to women's tennis - many thought women couldn't win that way and many still think women shouldn't play that way. Historically a person like that is called a pioneer in their field
I agree completely on those two. I'd give the edge to Martina though, as her main counterparts in her time were better (just think how many majors she'd have had if Evret wasn't around!) and she was a phenomenal doubles player.
Serena is certainly great, and certaibly top 5 all-time women's player, but I don't think her argument for number 1 is as open-and-closed as everyone in the media says.
There's a story that at Augusta in the early 1960s, someone on the green called out as Nicklaus hunkered down over a putt, "Ahnie just birdied thirteen. How do you like that, Ohio Fats," and Bobby Jones personally had the person banned from the golf course. If that is not true, I'd like it to be.
What grace Ajla showed, indeed. But no one really had to beat Serena in the final match. No one beat Rocky Marciano.
Excellent, Joe. I love tennis and have watched a lot of Serena over the years. It was fitting that the final point went back and forth repeatedly like she just wouldn’t give it up, but knew the end was coming. That’s how I felt watching it. I knew this was the last match after that long tiebreak, but I didn’t want it to end.
In my book she’s the most dominant athlete of my lifetime. What a joy it’s been to watch her.
Excellent as always (this is said with the envy of a one-time state award winner for columns). I might not have included Jim Brown as losing to time as he was still strong when he left for the movies.
Hey, Joe! Are you planning to write any about Francis Tiafoe? Seems like an incredible story and was amazing to watch him beat Nadal. Would love to read your thoughts.
Unbelievably incredible writing again!
Just keep getting better and better.
Joe, I don’t know a thing about tennis, but you make it mythical and epic. And a great read as you illuminate human weaknesses and strengths. Thank you.
A wonderful moment in time captured well, Joe. For me, without question, Serena is one of the greatest athletes of our time. I totally respect her tenacity, resilience, skill set, biz acumen and most importantly, her leadership and modelling the possibilities for other young Black athletes ( and so many others) who have succeeded and will succeed as a result. So great to see the uncommon diversity in the stands, not so great to have so many New Yorkers cheer Ajla's mistakes but re the NYC crowd, not new when so many show up because the Open is the place to be rather than a great tennis event. Serena noted in the Vogue article that she was unconcerned about her legacy. Really? False humility obviously but i do not begrudge that. Healthy ego? Yes, no issues for me. As Walt Whitman noted " if you've done it, it ain't bragging." My takeaway? The Open folks went overboard regarding the "farewell". All about ratings, money rules. Serena enjoyed it all as part of a process of evolving. A kind of public therapy and i get that. So for me, an incredible moment with Serena displaying her grit in the last game. And a post-game commentary from Ajla that was brilliantly and gracefully offered up from someone deserving of her place in history as the one who ended one of the best stories in history.
Time might catch up to the greatest athletes at some point, but when it comes to our greatest sports writers, they age like the finest of wines...
We who read you know your love of tennis... and how you love to write about the biggest moments. To so gracefully write this story that both captures the love affair for Serena while shining the light on Tomljanovic and her story is such a joy to read. What's more, the way you weaved her success as being so directly influenced by Serena, it's just next level story telling and sharing an event in a way most of us won't read anywhere else or would have even considered an option.
This to me is one of the best and most important sports stories I'll read about anything in a long while. Because you made me think... not only about this version of events, but to look for the untold story, the hidden grace, the other side during the events of my life as well as other arenas of life. It'll help me to appreciate the stories, the humanity, the efforts that so many of bring to the world everyday, even when I find myself on the other side of an opinion, a competition or argument.
Thank you Joe!
"Serena Williams is the most iconic American athlete of our lifetimes." That's quite a statement, what with Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, etc. all being within the lifetime of Joe and many of his readers - including me. Maybe Joe has a different definition of iconic than I have?
Yeah Serena is awesome, but let's chill. MJ is the most iconic, next question.
I watched the match, rooting hard for Serena. My wife, who is a dedicated tennis player, has always loved Serena. For some reason, I never really warmed up to her (Serena, not my wife). But, once you are over the hill yourself, it is always a thrill to watch someone waging a desperate fight against the relentless tide of time. Serena was obviously not in prime condition, old and out of shape and overweight (for an athlete, not a normal person). On the other hand, her opponent, Ajla Tomljanovic, was apparently in fantastic shape, still bouncing on her heels in the third and final set. Tomljanonovic looked like she trained for a marathon, not a tennis match. Ajla relentlessly wore down Serena. It was, in its own way, a beautiful thing to watch. When the match was over, Serena perfunctorily shook Tomljanovic's hand. Serena then basked in the attention, applause and love from the crowd. She then made a somewhat strange speech, thanking her father and mother and sister (oddly finally thanking her husband and daughter way down the list, almost like an afterthought). But the speech was basically just focused on herself and her story. While all this went on and on, Ajla Tomljanovic, who actually won the match, just sat and watched. Serena Williams never once looked at Ajla. Never acknowledged her in her strange rambling speech. The final camera shot was Serena heading off the court, never looking back, with Ajla Tomljanovic watching her in the background. If she had any real class or grace, Williams should have realized that the moment included people other than herself. But Serena ended her career with, basically, an astonishing display of narcissism. It's all about her. And I finally realized why I had never really been able to root for her that much. Then came the kicker. Ajla Tomljanovic got to speak. And she spoke with dignity and grace about Serena, despite the fact the Serena had just ignored her like some spit on the highway of Serena's life. Good riddance to Serena until her inevitable narcissistic comeback. On the other hand, I wish nothing but the best for Ajla in the future. I did not even know who she was before last night, never even heard her name in passing. But, after her extraordinary display of class and grace, I will now always remember Ajla and root for her. I hope Ajla Tomljanovic wins the bloody US Open, patriotism be damned.
Excellent comment, especially the line about the "inevitable narcissistic comeback." I've never liked Serena, from the early days of overpowering my favorite player (Hingis) to the sore losing ("she didn't beat me I beat myself") to the Vogue article whining about the unfairness of womanhood (and blaming her child for preventing more potential trophies), and on to the narcissistic finale. The media are terrified to not share in the adulation, because Serena is female and a "person of color." Joe succumbed to this as well with his ridiculous statement that she is the most iconic American athlete of our lifetimes. I'm no fan of MJ, but get with the program, Joe.
I agree with you on the whole. I do find Serena to be unlikable at times when she's losing. Think back to her yelling at a judge that she'll shove the ball down her throat or her meltdown at the US Open final a couple years ago against Osaka.
Your "unlikeable at times" comment hits the nail right on the head. I don't really have an axe to grind with Serena Williams. As far as athletes go, Serena Williams is probably a kinder better person than most. But who really knows? I do remember Serena consoling a young opponent a couple of years after destroying her in straight sets. But it's not that hard to show compassion when you have just won overwhelmingly and some poor girl is bawling her eyes out. Serena had a chance to show true class at the 2022 US Open and just missed it (like many of her shots that night). Instead, Serena just stayed on Brand. The contrast of Serena's self-absorption with the grace that Ajla Tomljanovic showed was simply jarring. But how many people miss these chances in real life? Probably most everyone. And athletes, whose focus on honing their physical gifts has usually stunted their emotional development, are at a severe disadvantage. But her lack of empathy right then was really disappointing, even if actually understandable (she lost, her career may be over, she's moving on, etc). And it stopped me from truly celebrating her greatness. On the other hand, its hard not to compare Serena to the tennis "idols" of my youth: Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. Has Serena ever even approached the level of immature professional dickishness of these two men? [Or, perhaps a better question would be: "Has any female tennis player ever acted as childishly as these two blockheads used to?]. But everyone is a mixed bag. At times, I have certainly enjoyed some of McEnroe's antics. I am sure that, at some time of her life, Ajla Tomljanovic has been unkind to someone. But the decency that Ajla showed, after what had to be a highlight of her life, to Serena was quite illuminating. Go Ajla!
I agree with much of what you've written here, but I would ask you to consider Serena's care for and generosity towards Naomi Osaka at the end of their 2018 US Open final. After Serena melted down and a loyal and belligerent crowd reacted with anger, Serena saw that Naomi couldn't even enjoy the biggest moment of her then-budding career and comforted the new and young champion and asked the crowd to celebrate Naomi's achievement. That kind of in-the-now unselfishness was certainly never demonstrated by the Nastases, McEnroes, and Connors in their era.
The best part of any women's tennis major is when Serena Williams loses and so I and many of us were rooting for Aija. We were rooting against Serena becuase she has made herself hard to root for. So Joe's comment that we all were rooting for Serena is strange. Her costume was bizarre and she is just ntot a very likable character. I think mostly that as many root for Serena as against her. Glad she is off the tour and out of the tournement.
Serena played much better than I expected and she went out fighting like the true champion she is. Despite having the crowd completely against her, Tomljanovic handled herself admirably on the court and off, in her post-match interview. She was composed and graceful. The crowd, on the other hand ... Well, I get desperately wanting Serena to win. But cheering Tomljanovic's faults and double faults. Complete silence on her incredible cross-court forehand winners that had Serena flat-footed. Not so admirable. And the U.S. Open should have had the interview of Tomljanovic first instead of having her wait around for the (deserved) celebration of Serena.
No kidding. If you can't cheer a great play by the person/team you aren't rooting for, your missing the point of sports, IMO.
so hard to believe this amazing career comes to an end... truly, in the Womens game, Serena is the GOAT!!! and gawd, how much were we all pulling for her to summon forth one more epic run and make this US Open her 24th? alas, it was not to be; thank you, Serena for so, so much- what a true champion for all time!!!
Thinking Stefi was maybe better...Martina too, but Serena sure has a good argument as the best ever Women's player.
Steffi lost a potential great rival in Seles and then also Hingis foot issue. Although Henin and Clijsters made life choices taking away potential great matches with Serena, maybe they didn't have the will to keep fighting those battles which is credit to Serena. Navratilova was great and had a great rival challenging her.
What I give to Serena though is she brought power and aggression to women's tennis - many thought women couldn't win that way and many still think women shouldn't play that way. Historically a person like that is called a pioneer in their field
Of course we failed to mention Margaret Court who actually holds the record for majors.
I agree completely on those two. I'd give the edge to Martina though, as her main counterparts in her time were better (just think how many majors she'd have had if Evret wasn't around!) and she was a phenomenal doubles player.
Serena is certainly great, and certaibly top 5 all-time women's player, but I don't think her argument for number 1 is as open-and-closed as everyone in the media says.
There's a story that at Augusta in the early 1960s, someone on the green called out as Nicklaus hunkered down over a putt, "Ahnie just birdied thirteen. How do you like that, Ohio Fats," and Bobby Jones personally had the person banned from the golf course. If that is not true, I'd like it to be.
What grace Ajla showed, indeed. But no one really had to beat Serena in the final match. No one beat Rocky Marciano.
Excellent, Joe. I love tennis and have watched a lot of Serena over the years. It was fitting that the final point went back and forth repeatedly like she just wouldn’t give it up, but knew the end was coming. That’s how I felt watching it. I knew this was the last match after that long tiebreak, but I didn’t want it to end.
In my book she’s the most dominant athlete of my lifetime. What a joy it’s been to watch her.
Excellent as always (this is said with the envy of a one-time state award winner for columns). I might not have included Jim Brown as losing to time as he was still strong when he left for the movies.
And Tom Brady is apparently never going to lose it.
True ... and I thought specifically about this. Because remember the comeback?