The biggest news of the day – and perhaps the month – in the tennis world came off of the court when Serena Williams announced that she'd be retiring from tennis after the US Open.
America's hard court Grand Slam event, which is played at the end of August and the beginning of September, is fast approaching as the men's and women's tours are currently playing the North American hard court season.
Williams made the announcement in a Vogue feature, in which she stated, “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me."
In Vogue’s September issue, @serenawilliams prepares to say farewell to tennis on her own terms and in her own words. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine,” she says. “I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next” https://t.co/6Zr0UXVTH1pic.twitter.com/YtGtcc18a9
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) August 9, 2022
As it currently stands, 40-year old Williams is one Grand Slam title away from Margaret Court's record of 24. Of course, half of Court's titles came prior to the Open Era, a significant distinction in tennis history.
Nonetheless, Williams' most recent Slam title came in 2017, when she defeated her sister Venus, who is still active on Tour. Since then, Williams has fallen in straight sets at each of the four Slam finals in which she has competed.
Serena picked up her first singles win of the season on Monday, defeating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in the first round of the Toronto Masters. She's also scheduled to compete at the Cincinnati Masters prior to the US Open in New York.
Williams won't be entering the final tournament of her career as a favorite, or even close to one. A title in Flushing Meadows would be the biggest underdog championship of her career.
The best odds you can get on Williams to win the title is +2900 at FanDuel, with her odds ranging anywhere from +1600 to there across major American sportsbooks.
If Williams shows improved form in Toronto and Cincinnati, those odds will likely shorten, but if she can't compete at a high level, they are likely to drift longer.
Iga Swiatek (+250) is the favorite on the women's side to take home the final Slam title of the year.
Last year's champion, Emma Raducanu, is listed anywhere from +1400 to +2500.
