We all know that Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam champion is nearing the end of her brilliant tennis career. Last month she unveiled her retirement plans by penning her future goals in Vogue. The 2022 United States Open appears to be Williams’s final tournament.
But Williams is not ready to leave the game of tennis just yet. On Wednesday, she stayed alive at the 2022 United States Open by beating the second ranked player in the world, Anett Kontaveit of Estonia, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. Williams advanced to play Kontaveit after beating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.
For many years Williams had Patrick Mouratoglou of France in his box. But as the final major of the 2022 tennis season is taking place in Flushing Meadows, Williams has a new face coaching her as she attempts to win her 24th major, which would tie her with Margaret Smith Court of Australia for the most majors all-time. Williams’s coach also has an Australian connection–51-year-old Rennae Stubbs of Sydney.
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Stubbs, who is also working for ESPN during the United States Open, did not have great success in singles in her career, but had great success in doubles. She won four grand slam women’s doubles titles (2000 Australian Open, 2001 and 2004 Wimbledon and 2001 United States Open), and two grand slam mixed doubles titles (2000 Australian Open and 2001 United States Open). Stubbs won her majors in women’s doubles alongside Lisa Raymond of the United States and Cara Black of South Africa. She won her majors in mixed doubles alongside Jared Palmer of the United States and Australian doubles legend Todd Woodbridge. In the past, Stubbs has coached Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, Australia’s Samantha Stosur and Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.
Interestingly, Williams’s next opponent in the third round also has an Australian connection. It is two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic of Brisbane.
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