Serena Williams will take center stage as the US Open gets underway on Monday with the 23-time Grand Slam winner preparing to bid an emotional farewell to tennis, IgbereTV reports
After announcing earlier this month that the countdown to her retirement had begun, Williams will step on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows for what could be her final appearance in a Grand Slam singles event.
The 40-year-old sporting and cultural icon won the first of her Grand Slam titles at the same venue in 1999, lifting the trophy as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.
In Monday’s sold-out night session, which starts at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT), Williams will face Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic, the world number 80.
Whether Williams is able to extend her US Open campaign beyond that match remains to be seen.
In her last outing at the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month, Williams was thumped 6-4, 6-0 by Britain’s Emma Raducanu — who herself was knocked out of the Australian Open by Kovinic in January.
Win or lose on Monday, Williams won’t be departing the US Open stage immediately
