Chicago tennis players sad to see Serena Williams go

CHICAGO (WLS) — Many tennis gamers, particularly women, take into account Serena Williams as their idol.

“I’ve been watching Serena since endlessly enjoying tennis,” mentioned tennis participant Ashley Matz.

Younger tennis gamers are getting an up shut take a look at what it takes to compete in knowledgeable tennis match this week. They’re working as ball youngsters for the Chicago Males’s Challenger hosted by the XS Tennis and Training Basis on town’s South Facet.

“It is actually enjoyable. It is usually actually nerve racking, however I really like being right here,” mentioned tennis participant Harper Wright.

They will solely think about what it has been like for Williams to compete on the world stage for many years.

“I’d be fairly nervous to play on an enormous stage like that,” mentioned tennis participant Imade Osaghae.

Like so many who love the game of tennis, they’ll be unhappy to see Williams retire after the upcoming U.S. Open.

In a brand new private essay in Vogue, Williams describes it an as evolution quite than a retirement. The 41-year-old desires to develop her household and achieve different objectives.

“I can see why she is retiring. I am positive she goes to overlook the game. Everybody that watches tennis usually is certainly going to overlook her, too,” Matz mentioned.

“I am unhappy to see her retire, however I’m additionally very completely happy that she had such an incredible profession,” mentioned tennis participant Olivia Dorfman.

Williams started her skilled profession at 14 years outdated. She has 73 profession singles titles and 4 Olympic gold medals.

“I really like her perseverance and her skill to maintain going,” Wright mentioned.

Former faculty tennis participant Kamau Murray is the founder and CEO of XS. He mentioned the Williams sisters did not come from a tennis pedigree and nonetheless had been capable of dominate the game. Murray believes his younger gamers can study rather a lot from Serena’s aggressive spirit.

“Even when she was not in tip-top form proper, even when she was coming again after the being pregnant, even when she was coming again after her surgical procedure, you knew that you just had been in for a battle,” Murray mentioned.