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Serena Williams’ parting shot at Margaret Court, nod to Ash Barty in retirement announcement

Serena Williams sounded just the tiniest little bit salty as she reflected on likely finishing her tennis career with one less grand slam title than Australian legend Margaret Court.

Williams’ crusade to win an elusive 24th major title and draw level with Court has been a five-year saga that looks almost certain to end fruitlessly when she retires at this year’s US Open.

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The 40-year-old American revealed her plans to end her career to focus on having another child in an article in Vogue Magazine published on Tuesday night (AEST).

Williams referenced Court twice in the piece, and while she was careful with her words left the impression she should be remembered as tennis’ greatest ever player.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where she fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

It was her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, some 14 months ago. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June.

“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’ I get that. It’s a good fantasy,” she wrote.

“But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”

Another Aussie champion, Ash Barty, also got a mention in Williams’ self-penned article as she revealed how hard she was finding it to walk away.

Barty stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 25 earlier this year.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” Williams wrote. “Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on. Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of my best friends, felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020.

“Praise these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at these crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.”

Read related topics:Ash Barty

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Categories
Sports

Serena Williams’ parting shot at Margaret Court, nod to Ash Barty in retirement announcement

Serena Williams sounded just the tiniest little bit salty as she reflected on likely finishing her tennis career with one less grand slam title than Australian legend Margaret Court.

Williams’ crusade to win an elusive 24th major title and draw level with Court has been a five-year saga that looks almost certain to end fruitlessly when she retires at this year’s US Open.

The 40-year-old American revealed her plans to end her career to focus on having another child in an article in Vogue Magazine published on Tuesday night (AEST).

Williams referenced Court twice in the piece, and while she was careful with her words left the impression she should be remembered as tennis’ greatest ever player.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.

Serena Williams waves goodbye to the crowd following her defeat against Naomi Osaka in the semis of the 2021 Australian Open – a match that would prove to be her last in Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where she fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

It was her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, some 14 months ago. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June.

“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’ I get that. It’s a good fantasy,” she wrote.

Margaret Court watches the women’s singles final at Wimbledon last month. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ash Barty and Serena Williams at the 2018 French Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”

Another Aussie champion, Ash Barty, also got a mention in Williams’ self-penned article as she revealed how hard she was finding it to walk away.

Barty stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 25 earlier this year.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” Williams wrote. “Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on. Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of my best friends, felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020.

“Praise these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at these crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.”

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Sports

live updates, how many medals has Australia won, number, gold, silver, bronze, swimming, athletics

Team Australia dominated the Commonwealth Games medal tally in Birmingham in the opening four days, sitting comfortably in front – thanks largely to more dominance in the pool.

Australia claimed a stunning eight gold medals on day one, including five of a possible seven in the pool! On day two, Australia added five more golds.

The gold rush continued with nine on day three, highlighted by Emma McKeon making history with a record-breaking 11th Commonwealth Games gold medal when she took out the Women’s 50m freestyle final.

Australia has dominated again on day four with another NINE gold medals, coming in judo, lawn bowls, cycling and gymnastics — along with the usual big haul in the pool.

Australia has opened day five with a 72nd medal of the Games, this time a bronze in the men’s vault in artistic gymnastics.

DAY 5 LIVE: Athletics begins as Browning opens 100m campaign; McKeon and Simpson eye final swim day

DAY 4 WRAP: Aussies win NINE golds in wild Games medal blitz; Chalmers win ‘hard to enjoy’

Read on for more details and the full medal tally.

Australia sit on top of the medal tally with 31 gold, 20 silver and 21 bronze (71 total!), ahead of England and New Zealand.

The Aussies topped the tally with 198 medals — including 80 gold — in the Gold Coast four years ago.

You can track the live medal tally for every country here, with key Aussie wins and updates as they happen.

Click here for a full list of EVERY Aussie medal winner!

Commonwealth Games kick off in style | 00:34

SCHEDULE: Sport-by-sport guide to every day

AUSSIES: Our top hopes to watch

INTERNATIONALS: The big names set to light up the Games

COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALS TALLY (AS OF 5:30AM WEDNESDAY)

RANK/COUNTRY/GOLD/SILVER/BRONZE/TOTAL

1. Australia — 37, 28, 30, 95

2.England—28, 30, 17, 75

3.New Zealand—13, 7, 5, 25

4. Canada — 10, 14, 19, 43

5. South Africa—6, 5, 5, 16

6. India — 5, 4, 3, 12

7.Scotland—3, 8, 15, 26

8. Wales—3, 2, 8, 13

9. Malaysia — 2, 2, 3, 7

10. Nigeria — 2, 1, 4, 7

See the full live medal tally here.

DAY-BY-DAY MEDAL LIST

DAY FIVE

James Bacuetti claimed Australia’s first men’s gymnastics medal of these Games, winning bronze in the men’s vault. 20-year-old English sensation Jake Jarman won gold – his FOURTH of the Games – ahead of Fellow Englishman Giarnni Regini-Moran.

Aofie Coughlan took home the gold medal in the women’s 70kg judo final while Eileen Cikamatana set a new Games Record en route to a gold medal in the women’s 87kg weightlifting final.

in the swimming, Mollie O’Callaghan produced a stunning upset to win the gold in the womens’ 100m freestyle as Elizabeth Deckers won the women’s 200m butterfly.

nina kennedy secured the gold in the women’s pole vault.

DAY 5 LIVE: Athletics begins as Browning opens 100m campaign; McKeon and Simpson eye more gold

DAY FOUR

Australia ended day four with 31 gold, 20 silver and 21 bronze (71 total!), ahead of England and New Zealand.

Georgia Goodwin narrowly won gold in the women’s vault over Canada’s Laurie Denommee, while at the track, matthew glaetzer won gold in the men’s 1,000m time trial. Ellen Ryan won gold in the women’s lawn bowls singles and Tinka Easton caused an upset by claiming gold in judo.

in the pool, Kyle Chalmer won the 100m freestyle, Kaylee McKeown won the 200m backstroke and matthew levy claimed gold in the men’s 50m freestyle S7. Emma McKeon then narrowly clinched gold in the 50m breaststroke to extend her Games record to 12 golds, while the Aussies ended the night with victory in the men’s 4x200m freestyle.

Aussie weightlifter robbed of Gold?! | 00:26

Elsewhere, 49-year-old legend Jian Fang Lay has led the Aussie team to bronze in the women’s table tennis team event.

It began with victory in doubles alongside Yangzi Liu, who won her own singles game before Jian Fang Lay sealed the 3-0 over Wales with a singles victory of her own.

Kyle Bruce claimed silver in the men’s 81kg weightlifting after a heartbreaking jury decision overruled his final, gold-winning lift.

The Aussie men’s triples claimed silver in the lawn bowls, fighting back from 12-1 down in the final to level the score at 12-12 against England before falling 14-12.

DAY 4 WRAP: Aussies win NINE golds in wild Games medal blitz; Chalmers win ‘hard to enjoy’

GOLDEN HEARTBREAK: ‘Devastated’ Aussie in tears after gold ‘stolen away’

CHALMERS GOES ALL IN: Legends not surprised by last-minute withdrawal

BIG BLOW: Diamonds’ dream run soured as star sidelined with calf injury

Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!
Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!Source: Getty Images

DAY THREE

Australians Sam Harding and Jonathan Gorlach kicked off the day with superb silver and bronze medals in the men’s PTVI triathlon final.

Emma McKeon and Kaylee McKeown then added two more gold in the pool taking out the Women’s 50m freestyle and the 100m backstroke respectively.

McKeon led home meg harris in silver with Shayna Jack (24.36) finishing third.

In the men’s 50m breaststroke, Zac Stubblety-Cook (59.52) took home bronze.

The Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team then completed a dominant campaign in the pool by breaking the world record.

Georgia Godwin won the all-round rhythmic gymnastics women’s final.

Australia’s Women’s 7s rugby side then put the pain of Tokyo behind them to claim gold in the final against Fiji.

In track cycling, matthew richardson won the men’s final sprint.

Kristina Clonan took home gold in the 500m time trial.

Georgia Baker won the women’s 25km points race, while Jessica Gallagher picked up her second gold medal of the Games in the Women’s tandem 1000m time trial with pilot Caitlyn Ward.

Day 3 WRAP: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history

‘It is shocking’: Thorpe stunned as England World record holder toppled in ‘unbelievable’ boilover

SHOCK CRASH: Cyclist catapults into crowd in horror scenes after Comm Games crash

‘Lost my s***’: Boxall goes bonkers AGAIN as Aussie coach celebrates WR win

‘Took all my courage and energy to swim’: Chalmers stuns in raw, emotional interview

DAY TWO

madison de rosario took out the women’s T53/54 marathon in style, dominating the field to win with a Commonwealth Games record time of 1:56:00.

Jess Stenson won the women’s marathon with an incredible run, going better than her two bronze medals in Glasgow and the Gold Coast.

It was another ripping day in the pool, with katja dedekind winning a gold meal in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 while both the men’s and women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay finished first.

There were silver medals for maeve plouffe in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit, Brendon Smith in the men’s 400m IM, Emma McKeon in the women’s 100m butterfly and the artistic gymnastics team.

DAY 2 NEWS

WRAP: McKeon makes history amid swim gold rush; rugby stars win thriller

‘A load of s***’: Chalmers explodes at media for ‘ruining it all’ over love triangle claims

‘Dream big’: ‘Extraordinary’ journey behind ‘one of the great’ Aussie athletics triumphs

‘I was just guessing’: New Aussie cult hero’s shock reveal after ‘epic’ career-best run

DAY ONE

matt hauser had the honor of being the first Australian to win a medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, taking home the silver medal in the Men’s Triathlon Sprint Distance Final.

Ariarne Titmus won gold in the women’s 200m freestyle, 18-year-old Aussie Mollie O’Callaghan claimed silver in an unbelievable late charge, ahead of Madison Wilson.

Elijah Winnington won gold in the men’s 400m freestyle, ahead of fellow Aussies Sam Short and Mack Horton. Zac Stubblety-Cook won gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke while Kiah Melverton took silver in the women’s 400m Individual Medley.

In the final race of night one, Australia won gold in the mixed 4x100m relay.

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