junior tennis because he saw what they were dealing with. he didn t want that to happen. of course it happened along the way. it probably still happens to some degree. but she has always been out there speaking for young girls, for women, for the african american community. and you know what? plenty of women, girls, have picked up this sport from all backgrounds because of what serena and venus have done. and she s also changed, john, the way the game is played on the court from players from all over the world. so, there s just so many layers to what she s done. and i think for her, this is tricky, this spot at the u.s. open, because she s the ultimate competitor, the ultimate winner. and for her to know that this is all going on, swirling around her, she agreed to have this type of sendoff really i think for her fans more than anyone else. usda has a whole thing planned after this match tonight win or lose. something tells me maybe serena can go on and win this match. by the way, she
slams slams titles will go down as the most as any player in the era. williams has also won every grand slam doubles title at least twice along with four mixed doubles tietles. joining me now, espn tennis analyst and former tennis star patrick mcenroe, and carrie champion. they re both there at the open tonight. patrick, look, serena won her first grand slam in 1999 at the open at the age of 17. so, how fitting is it that this is where her pro career could end? oh, it s absolutely it s so fitting, john. as you said, full circle for serena. you realize that when serena started her professional career, which was in 1995, she was a teenager.
half. serena may be thinking about her match wednesday night, which would be against the number two seed who won her match tonight. that will be something. serena williams is a sensation. thanks to both of you for helping us share this evening. of course. of course. thank you. have a good one. next, an historic mission delayed. nasa scrubs the first rocket launch of its much anticipated return to the moon. why the launch was postponed and when nasa will try again when n our countdown continues. my dad s been wondering about hihis childhood address for 70 years. and i found it in five minutes. .that little leaf helped me learn all the names from the old neighborhood. it felt like a treasure hunt. the 1950 census adds vivid new detail to your family story. and it s available now on ancestry.
over 70 players that were currently in the field that s 127 of the other players over 70 of them were not even born yet. so, here is serena as a mother, as someone, as you said, who has done it all in tennis. she will go down as the greatest of all time no matter what happens tonight and the rest of the tournament. this is a celebration for serena, all she s meant for tennis, for sport, and speaking out on behalf of women, on behalf of african american women. she has just the what she will leave behind is way more than what she s done on the tennis court. and that s saying a lot. carrie, how electric, how much of a celebration has it been in the stands with serena williams on the court? well, it s been a great one. fers of all, thank you all for having me. patrick, i have to go find you once i get off this phone call and harass you. second of all, the mood is electric. everyone is excited. i m speaking for myself, but i m also speaking for the fans.
was two months pregnant now, she hopes to grow that family, telling vogue she s hanging up her racket. i ve never liked the word retirement. maybe the best word to describe what i m up to is evolution. that evolution expected to begin after the u.s. open. this might be our last time seeing serena play a real match. reporter: fans flocking from around the world. she got me to play tennis reporter: serena s last stand playing out in the very place she made her breakthrough more than 20 years ago, winning the u.s. open at just 17 years old. does this feel like a full-circle moment absolutely. reporter: renee stubbs is helping the 40-year-old to prepare. do you think she ll walk away with the title? it will be very difficult, for a lot of reasons i m the first person to say never say never when it comes to serena williams. reporter: her farewell tour to include a sister special. serena and venus