US Open 2022: Serena Williams is the greatest women's player in the Open Era, says Purav Raja

Bengaluru, August 28: The US Open 2022, the last Grand Slam of the year, which begins at the Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday (August 29) will pull down the curtains on the glittering career of American tennis great Serena Williams.

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena is just one shy of Margaret Court's all-time record and as the 40-year-old appears set for one last shot at matching the Australian, Indian player Purav Raja said the American's retirement will be one big void to fill.

"Serena (Williams) brought so much to the game. We all were brought up in a generation watching both Serena and her sister Venus win consistently and produce some magical tennis on the court. Serena is probably the greatest women's tennis player in the Open Era and it'll be very sad not to see her play again," Purav told a group of invited journalists in a virtual media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, who have the official broadcast rights of US Open 2022 in India.

Sisters' act

Serena's involvement at the US Open begins on Monday, with Venus following her on court, a day later. Both the sisters have accepted a wild-card entry offered by the US Open 2022 organisers for the women's doubles, with the first round scheduled for the following day.

Purav said Serena's charisma is something which extends beyond the baseline.

Greatest moment

"Whatever said and done, the US Open 2022 will be all about Serena. It'll be one of the greatest moment in American tennis. Having a female player of the magnitude of Serena doing such great things for the sport is just awesome.

"You'll be amazed to see how many people turn up to see her play. She's a hero for my mother, wife and daughter and for everybody in the world. That's the lesson that tennis brings and that's what tennis is all about," added Purav.

No successor

Purav said it will be difficult to any other player to replicate Serena's success on the court.

"Over the years it has been so diverse at the top in women's tennis. It'll be difficult for a player to dominate the game like what Serena has done over the years. Iga (Swiatek) is one player who's coming up the ranks, but it isn't prudent to put any player in the same brackets as Serena," he added.

Tributes to Sania

Purav also paid glowing tributes to compatriot Sania Mirza, who too has decided to hang up her racquets soon, though the ace Indian has pulled out of US Open 2022 due to an injury.

"We're going to miss Sania (Mirza) for sure. The kind of support and adulation she gets in India is phenomenal and she deserves every bit it."

Watch the LIVE coverage of the US Open 2022 on SONY SIX & SONY TEN 2 channels from August 29 followed by the LIVE coverage of Quarterfinals from September 6 on SONY TEN 2 (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi), and SONY TEN 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels.