Serena Williams had an illustrious tennis career, marked by exceptional achievements at Flushing Meadows.
In 1999, the American Williams captured her first Grand Slam title at the US Open as a teenager, making her the sixth youngest woman ever to win a major championship.
Throughout her career, she accumulated an impressive five additional US Open titles.
During her tenure on the WTA Tour, she became a dominant force in New York, instilling dread in her opponents whenever she entered their section of the draw.
Caty McNally Reflects on Her Match Against Serena Williams
McNally recounted, “I told myself to stay focused and not look at her because the second I did, it hit me that I was playing against Serena Williams.” After winning the first set 7-5, she celebrated by raising her arms, something she now regrets, saying, “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Reflecting on the match, she acknowledged the crowd’s support played a role in her excitement. “It was enjoyable to have the audience cheering for me instead of just Serena,” she noted. Ultimately, Williams triumphed in the match, winning in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, an experience McNally still considers a highlight of her career.
Serena Williams’ Performance at the 2019 US Open
Following her sixth US Open title in 2014, Williams struggled to secure a seventh, falling short in her previous three attempts. After finishing as a runner-up in 2018, she was poised for a strong performance in 2019 and advanced past McNally in the second round.
In the finals, Williams faced Canadian player Bianca Andreescu, who was participating in only her fourth major tournament. Andreescu started the match strong, winning the first set 6-3. Though Williams fought back, even tying the second set at 5-5, she ultimately lost 6-3, 5-7. Following that defeat, Williams never returned to a Grand Slam final and retired in 2022 with an impressive 23 Grand Slam titles, leaving an unparalleled legacy at the US Open, where she won a record six titles in the Open Era.
