fciwomenswrestling2.com Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com lev-radin-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use-
August 29, 2022,
Writing its own story, the US Open, no matter the year, has incredible storylines and story tellers.
The most important scribe in the last 20 years has been the legendary industry changing champion in Serena Williams.
According to her, this will be her last chapter. The ending of her sweeping novel at the mighty 2022 US Open.
Time waits for no one.
We are internally intensely sad when one of the greatest of all time retires. Previously, as they won year after year, sometimes in seemingly impossible situations, it was as though nothing had changed. Serena always wins or at least comes close.
There is comfort in that.
In some ways, time stood still, as what happens before, continues to happen.
That’s why we love our NFL dynasties.
Then you realize, it is finally over.
For good.
She has gotten older.
So have we.
For some of us, how many summers that transition into fall, do we have left?
One of our associates recently created a trust. Finally looked reality and the eventual ending in the face. It was extremely sad and also a great relief.
A magnificent champion who retires reminds us of our own mortality.
And, as the legendary John Lennon of the Beatles taught us so spiritually, the importance of each year with the song, So This Is Christmas:
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
That is the way Serena plays. Without any fear.
Serena has been ranked the singles world No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks, including a joint-record 186 consecutive weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time (behind Margaret Court‘s 24).
We have been blessed. She is an exceptional story teller.
New story tellers are emerging, but for how long will their stories of greatness last.
For a time, we thought Naomi Osaka’s story as a champion would go on for years.
Maybe it still will.
Naomi has been ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles.
She is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion.
Her seven titles on the WTA Tour also include two at the Premier Mandatory level.
At the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open, Naomi won her first two Grand Slam singles titles in back-to-back Grand Slam tournaments. She was the first woman to win successive Grand Slam singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015, and was the first to win her first two in successive majors since Jennifer Capriati in 2001.
Impressive story telling indeed.
Then came the mental and emotional issues.
Naomi was seeded second at the 2021 French Open.
Shortly before the start of the tournament, she announced that she would not conduct her mandatory media assignments. After she won her first match in straight sets and did not hold a press conference, she was fined $15,000 and threatened with rising levels of fines and expulsion.
The following day, she announced her withdrawal from the tournament, citing mental health issues.
Many fellow major sports athletes and sponsors have voiced support for Naomi, with some noting a rarely discussed issue of mental health, although the overall reaction from the wider tennis community was mixed.
On June 17, 2022, Ms. Osaka’s agent announced that she would not participate in the upcoming Wimbledon Championships.
Yes, she has a right to do that. We certainly do not question her. But if you are trying to write your story as one of the greatest champions of all time, you can’t leave out important chapters.
Like Wimbledon.
Do that and you will find yourself ranked number 44 coming into the 2022 US Open and all that goes with it.
On January 28, 2019, it was the first time that Naomi was ranked number one in the world.
As the highest ranked players are protected in the first round coming into the majors, part of the reason you have a greater chance of repeating is that you play much lower ranked players in the first round.
Builds up your early victory total.
And your confidence.
Protects your body from wear and tear.
This year, ranked number 44, Naomi will not have that luxury. Facing number 19, Danielle Collins in the first round, she will be up against it. As you might recall, Danielle was a finalist at the 2022 Australian Open.
Danielle is a hard hitter and can be a little streaky but when she is healthy, she is a mighty force.
Naomi has expressed that she wants to get back to the top. It will not be easy.
So much depends upon the story she writes here.
Like Iga Swiatek.
Ms. Swiatek is currently ranked world No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
She was the champion at the French Open in 2020 and 2022. She is the first player representing Poland to win a major singles title. In 2020, she became the youngest singles champion at the French Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005 and the youngest women’s singles champion at a major since Maria Sharapova in 2004.
Very impressive.
Right now, she is sailing into the US Open on a sizzling hot run. During 2022, she blazed through a 28 match winning streak.
Having said that, to be considered one of the great storytellers, with Grand Slams stretching through the years, it will not be one of the best sellers unless you can win the mighty US Open.
To be considered great, Iga needs to do that soon.
Maybe this year.
So this is Christmas. The US Open is an annual present. A great gift. Filled with storytellers.
As Serena’s magnificent tennis story comes to an end, for another great storyteller, perhaps a new one has begun.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO fciwomenswrestling2.com Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com lev-radin-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Williams
https://www.songlyrics.com/john-lennon/so-this-is-christmas-lyrics/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Osaka
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iga_%C5%9Awi%C4%85tek
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
