Serena Williams Gets Choked Up as She Begins Her Farewell Tour to Tennis

The only thing that Serena Williams might excel at more than tennis is picking memorable outfits. Since the 23-time Grand Slam winner earned her first major win at the 1999 U.S. Open in her buttercup yellow Puma dress and beaded ‘do, it was clear the now-GOAT was both a sport and style star.

Serena Williams came out on top at the U.S. Open Monday night.

Beyonce is helping honor her close friend Serena Williams!

Serena Williams' participation in the upcoming US Open in New York was already set to be quite the emotional one, and it just became all the more special.MORE: Serena Williams mourns heartbreaking loss with emotional tributeThe iconic tournament, which started on 23 August and runs through 11 September, sets the stage for the tennis star's very last competition,  having announced that she would retire after competing in it earlier this summer.Now, as the tournament is underway, Serena is proving she will really go out with a bang – and just the way she kicked off her career over two decades ago –  with none other than her sister Venus Williams by her side.WATCH: Serena offers rare glimpse into her bedroomMORE: Serena Williams shares surprising family photo featuring Meghan Markle – fans reactThe legendary sisters have received a wildcard entry, and will be playing together for the women's doubles tournament.It is the first time the two have joined forces to play at a major together since the French Open in 2018. The second time they won their Grand Slam doubles together was at the US Open in 1999, and Serena won her first of her whopping twenty-three major titles at the very same event.Reunited and it feels so good ❤️ This will be the first time Serena and Venus Williams have played at a major together since the French Open in 2018. #ThatsaW pic.twitter.com/Di8Isk3V0YTheir attendance just became all the more specialThe doubles draw is set to begin on Wednesday, 31 August, though the mom-of-one's first singles match will be against Danka Kovinic on Monday.

Meghan Markle toppled Spotify king Joe Rogan this week to become number one on the platform in six different countries, including the U.S., with her new podcast "Archetypes."  The Duchess of Sussex welcomed her longtime friend and tennis champ Serena Williams as her first guest on the podcast Tuesday.The two talked about how the word "ambition" has become a "dirty, dirty word when it comes to women." In the podcast, the royal said she never personally felt a negative connotation toward "ambition" until she started dating Prince Harry.  "Since I’ve felt the negativity behind it, it’s really hard to un-feel it," she said. "I can’t unsee it, either, in the millions of girls and women who make themselves smaller – so much smaller – on a regular basis." Meghan Markle dropped her first episode of 'Achetypes' on Tuesday.

Meghan Markle has already hit an incredible achievement with her new podcast, Archetypes!

Meghan Markle is an immediate podcast success.

Meghan Markle’s new Archetypes is currently Spotify’s most-listened-to podcast in six countries, overtaking usual U.S. frontrunner The Joe Rogan Experience.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor The Duchess of Sussex has claimed the No. 1 podcast position on Spotify’s charts in six markets worldwide, including the U.S. and U.K. And, for the time being, Meghan Markle’s “Archetypes” is currently more popular than “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which in the U.S. is consistently the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify. “Archetypes,” released Tuesday exclusively on Spotify, is No. 1 on the streamer’s podcast charts for the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Next week’s episode will feature a conversation between Markle and Mariah Carey. In the premiere episode, Markle talks to Serena Williams about the double standard women face when they are labeled “ambitious” and the ripple effect this has on other aspects of their life, as well as how they are perceived. The inaugural episode also features Dr. Laura Kray, a leading expert on gender in the workplace, and the way in which these archetypes affect all of us.

according to The Wrap, in Australia, Canada and the UK, where Markle still has a very loyal fanbase despite her Prince Harry leaving royal life in 2021.“Archetypes” has also outperformed the “Game of Thrones” podcast that was centered around the new spin-off “House of the Dragon,” which premiered on Sunday.In the podcast, Markle discusses the stereotypes faced by women in professional and social environments and featured tennis legend Serena Williams as her first guest.This is not the first time Rogan, who’s had a very fraught relationship with Spotify, has been dethroned. In September 2021, a podcast entitled “Batman Unburied” topped Rogan before he reclaimed the top spot again.Rogan also has some history of beef with Markle, after calling her a “little American hussy” in February 2021, which caused all 113 episodes to be mysteriously removed from the streaming platform.Several Twitter users rejoiced at Rogan’s downfall.“MEGHAN KNOCKED JOE ROGAN OUT OF THE #1 SPOT!!!!! MY GOD THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

podcast charts, taking the top spot from longtime No. 1 title “The Joe Rogan Experience” in the US. “Archetypes” has also taken over the No.

Serena Williams is "​evolving away from tennis," retired tennis legend John McEnroe is weighing in on the superstar's indelible legacy.The outspoken athlete recently chatted with ET's Kevin Frazier, while promoting his forthcoming Showtime documentary, and he reflected on Williams' retirement and final US Open.«I hope it goes well for her, but it doesn’t matter ultimately [because] she's an icon,» McEnroe said. «She's like Muhammad Ali, in a way, and Michael Jordan, Billie Jean King, Tom Brady. I mean, she's up with the all-time athletes, whether she wins a match or she wins the tournament.»«I mean, she's won so much, [and] she seems to be in a great place and that’s what matters,» he added. «Hopefully she'll be able to sort of inspire more kids to play the sport of tennis in the future.»McEnroe's praise comes nearly five years after the tennis star found himself in hot water over remarks he made about Williams that many critics felt were sexist.

Serena Williams has revealed that Prince Harry helped her with the decision to retire from tennis, after spending an hour speaking about it to the royal. Earlier this month, the tennis pro announced that she would be retiring to pursue projects outside the world of sport – and it's now been revealed that Prince Harry was part of that decision.

Eva Longoria is praising Serena Williams following her decision to step away from tennis to focus on expanding her family.

star from the U.K. has been making history like it's the easiest thing in the world.

in Vogue’s September issue that she will be stepping back from professional tennis imminently—which many understood to mean that this year’s U.S. Open would be her last—the world has been watching the 40-year-old tennis legend’s every move more closely than ever. The day after her story was published, Williams played the Canadian Open in Toronto and was given a standing ovation, while ticket sales for the U.S.

Serena Williams bid a tearful goodbye to Toronto, leaving it all on Sobeys Stadium’s Centre Court after competing in Wednesday night’s Canadian Open.

Michelle Obama took to social media to share a heartfelt message to Serena Williams after learning the beloved athlete would retire from tennis right after the U.S Open. “Serena, thank you for everything that you’ve done to break barriers and to be a positive light in this world,” she captioned the Instagram post. “We’ve all watched you wear the crown of greatness with the kind of humility, grace, and integrity that all of us can aspire to.

saying ta-ta to tennis. After seven Wimbledon and seven Australian Open titles, six US Open trophies and three French Open crowns, Williams, 40, is officially retiring from the sport, she announced Tuesday. However, she was reluctant to use the word “retirement,” a term she finds outdated.

announced she’s “evolving away” from the sport on Tuesday in an essay for Vogue. Williams added that this year’s US Open, beginning Aug. 29, will be her final tournament. Fittingly, she’ll bow out on the very same stage where she won her first Grand Slam in 1999 at just 17 years old.It’s the biggest departure from US tennis since Andy Roddick hung up his racket in 2012 — but much more massive than that.Roddick only won one slam, after all.