Serena Williams's career from 2020 to 2022 marked her final years in professional tennis, a period characterized by both significant achievements and persistent struggles with injuries. Despite these challenges, Williams continued to compete at the highest levels, demonstrating her enduring commitment to the sport. This era saw her secure a singles title as a mother and reach a US Open final, even as physical setbacks increasingly impacted her performance
and tournament participation.
Early 2020 Success and Emerging Challenges
Williams began 2020 on a high note, winning her first singles title as a mother at the ASB Classic, where she defeated Jessica Pegula in the final. This victory showcased her continued ability to perform at an elite level. However, the Australian Open presented an early challenge, as she lost in the third round to Wang in three sets. Later that year, she entered the Top Seed Open as the No. 1 seed, advancing past Venus in the second round before falling to Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinals.
The US Open in 2020 saw Williams defeat Stephens in the third round, but her run ended in the semifinals with a loss to Azarenka. The physical toll of the season became evident when she withdrew from the French Open, which had been delayed until October, citing an Achilles injury sustained during the US Open. This injury prevented her from reaching a Grand Slam final in 2020, a rare occurrence in her illustrious career.
Persistent Injuries and Limited Play in 2021
The 2021 season continued to be plagued by injuries for Williams. She started the year at the Yarra Valley Classic but withdrew before her semifinal match due to a right shoulder injury. At the Australian Open, she reached the semifinal stage before losing to Naomi Osaka, a significant match that highlighted the competitive landscape of women's tennis.
In May 2021, Williams played her 1000th career match at the Italian Open against Nadia Podoroska, though she lost in straight sets. Her Wimbledon campaign was cut short when she sustained an injury during her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, forcing her to withdraw from the tournament. The year concluded with another withdrawal, this time from the US Open, due to a leg injury. These repeated setbacks led to a significant drop in her ranking, plummeting to 41st in the world, her lowest year-end ranking in 15 years.
The Farewell Tour and Final Matches
As 2021 drew to a close, Williams announced she would not participate in the 2022 Australian Open, again citing the persistent leg injury. Her return to professional play came in June 2022, when she teamed up with Ons Jabeur for the Eastbourne International. The pair won two matches before Williams retired from the tournament due to an injury sustained by Jabeur.
Williams also played singles at Wimbledon in 2022, where she faced a first-round loss to Harmony Tan, who was ranked No. 113 at the time. This period culminated in her announcement in August 2022 of her impending "evolution" away from professional tennis, with her final match played at the 2022 US Open. Despite the challenges of her final years, Williams's resilience and determination remained evident, even as injuries limited her ability to consistently compete for major titles. She finished 2022 ranked No. 320, a testament to the impact of her reduced playing schedule.
