Serena Williams set Flushing Meadows abuzz on Saturday as the 23-time major winner appeared at the U.S. Open – as a fan – for the first time since stepping away from tennis two years ago.
The six-time winner dominated New York throughout her career and fittingly made an emotional goodbye in Flushing Meadows, when she played her final match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 tournament.
The tension of competition was gone on Saturday as Williams stepped on to the blue carpet decked out in a denim ensemble, all smiles and at ease as she flashed peace signs and smiled for the cameras.
“I feel like to me she’s always been that upbeat and happy person. Obviously we’re all in the zone when we’re about to compete, and so that’s different when you don’t play anymore,” said Caroline Wozniacki, Williams’ longtime friend.
“But at the end of the day, I think she’s always been, you know, a happy and outgoing person.”
Williams was seen chatting with world number one Iga Swiatek at the players’ gym ahead of the Pole’s third-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, which she won in straight sets.
“Even though we met before and for, like, couple of years we have been on the same sides and on tour together, she’s still, like, star-striking me,” Swiatek told reporters.