The tennis world is still grappling with Serena Williams' upcoming retirement from the sport, but her former coach, Rick Macci, is happy the 40-year-old is going out on her terms.
It has been five days since the woman many consider the greatest female tennis player ever announced she would retire after this year's US Open, triggering devastation among her millions of fans.
Williams' appearance for the final time at her home Grand Slam will undoubtedly be an emotional ride, no matter how long it lasts. The six-time US Open champion challenging at Flushing Meadows seems like a tough ask, but she can never be ruled out.
Her penultimate tournament before retirement will be the Cincinnati Open. In a blockbuster first-round matchup, Williams was drawn against defending US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
Macci worked with Williams as a young player and had a significant impact on her career. He is happy that the 23-time Grand Slam champion could make the decision herself, unlike other athletes who had no choice but to retire.
"Listen, she's doing this on her terms. She has a lot of things going on. I'm just happy for her because she's making the decision and she's doing it on her terms."
Williams' former coach is confident that the 40-year-old will go out with a bang at her home Grand Slam and thinks it is fitting that she gets to end her career at the scene of her first Grand Slam triumph.
"It's not an injury, she's not hanging on too long or anything like that, but what I really like it's gonna end at the U.S. Open. That's where she won her first Grand Slam and people in New York love it. I think it's gonna be a must-see TV and knowing Serena, she's gonna go out with a bang."
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