Serena Williams retirement: The 23-time Grand Slam winner transformed tennis and transcended all of sport

There are few people in this world who are recognisable only by their first names. Fewer still who are women in sport. Serena is one of those truly exceptional humans.

The fact that she narrows that niche further still, as a woman of colour, maybe shouldn't matter, but it does. Because Serena Williams has changed what it means to be a sportswoman, to be a successful Black woman, to be a mother, to be so much more than the sum of all of her achievements. As she walks away from the professional tennis court for the final time in her playing career, Serena brings with her the record for Grand Slam titles of any player in the Open era.

Ad But she also sweeps in the train of her magnificent, Vogue cover couture gown, a generation of change off the court that is even more profound, even more enduring, even more wide reaching. That is why Serena is and will continue to be so celebrated. In an age when women are still pressured to choose between career and motherhood, between strength and beauty, between sport or fashion, success or popularity, one box or another; Serena is all of it, and so much more.

US Open'It's been a fun ride' — Serena says farewell after three-set epic against Tomljanovic2 HOURS AGO Tennis lovers will know and celebrate the ways in which she has changed the sport, of course. Her serve has transformed the game. The physical strength and technical prowess she has brought to women’s tennis has taken it to a new level and demanded her rivals to compete on a similar level if they were to be any match.