NEW YORK -- It's not a US Open without Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion and six-time US Open champion dropped into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday to take in the sights and sounds of the biggest edition of the tournament yet.
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The 2022 US Open was Williams' final event before retiring, but the former No.1 has not strayed far from the sport. After arriving at the venue on Saturday, Williams was cheerfully greeted by Tournament Director and former WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster, who led the tour from 2009 to 2015.
We’ve got a special visitor on site 😍#USOpen pic.twitter.com/xyT9tw0goN
— wta (@WTA) August 31, 2024
This is an album cover. pic.twitter.com/OWX68vRPWt
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2024
Serena Williams out here vibing in Ashe! 💃 pic.twitter.com/QDT0r0AKlF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2024
It's been a busy summer for Williams, who has been on the road promoting her docu-series, "In the Arena: Serena Williams", which is currently airing on ESPN+. She also featured prominently at the Paris 2024 Olympics as part of the torch-lighting at the Opening Ceremony and in the stands as a frequent spectator.
In New York, Williams sat courtside during the day session to enjoy the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium before wandering the halls and running into Iga Swiatek ahead of the World No.1's third-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova:
Saturday’s in New York… are just different 🤯💜@iga_swiatek | @serenawilliams | #USOpen
— wta (@WTA) August 31, 2024
pic.twitter.com/cfz76TtbXr