Oprah Pays Tribute to Serena Williams on Night One of the U.S. Open
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Serena Williams’s announcement that she will be retiring from tennis soon means one thing for the 2022 U.S. Open: This year’s tournament will likely be her last time playing for that title. To celebrate Williams’s final matches and her decades of dedication to the sport, a video tribute played tonight in Arthur Ashe Stadium on the opening night of the Open—narrated by none other than Oprah.
The video made its debut after Williams’s first match, which was in round one of the women’s singles. Williams won against Montenegrin player Danka Kovini, winning 6-3, 6-3.
The tribute begins with a bang: a 17-year-old Williams winning her very first U.S. Open in 1999. She’s elated, pressing her hand to her heart before clearly saying, “Oh, my God.” Williams then walks over to her family, seeing her sister Venus, and hugging her father, Richard. This touching scene is followed by a sight familiar to many—Williams absolutely dominating the tennis court over the next two decades.
Here, Oprah’s words of appreciation come in. Lady O comments on how quickly the years have gone by while watching Williams win. “You’ve given us so much,” she says in the video. “All we can do is thank you.”
The video goes on to show Williams’s many successes, from her six U.S. Open singles wins to her incredible fashion choices on the court. Oprah comments on that, too, saying, “Thank you for dressing to the nines and bringing your dancing shoes. Thank you for turning center court into center stage.” Her dancing shoes are, of course, the glittering Nike x Off White sneakers Williams wore to the 2018 U.S. Open.
“Thank you for showing us how to be graceful, powerful, fearless,” Oprah continues, praising Williams for all she’s done. “Thank you for changing the face of the game. For inspiring the next generation.” The video shows Williams with her daughter, Olympia, as well as with fans, famous supporters, and opponents—to whom she has been incredibly gracious.
“Thank you for thinking outside the lines and encouraging us to evolve,” Oprah says before giving one final message of gratitude: “Thank you for showing us how to love the sport and for always loving us back.”
Oprah ends the tribute by telling Williams that whatever the next stage in her life holds, we’re here for the long haul. “We’ll be watching,” Oprah says. “With love, all of us.”
Lady O and Williams have a well-documented friendship. Williams appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show multiple times during her career. In 2002, Serena and Venus talked to Oprah together, sharing stories about how Serena used to copy Venus all the time, revealing what it was like to compete against each other, and discussing why their fashion choices are important.
The best TOWS visit, though, was when Serena came on her own—to give Oprah a pedicure. Turns out, Williams harbored a secret desire to be a nail technician. She actually attended a class, learning enough hard skills to give Lady O a pretty professional-grade pedicure on camera (and don’t worry—we’ve pulled it from the archives so you can watch it, too). Afterward, Williams sat down with Oprah to share that she would play tennis as long as she possibly could.
Watch Oprah’s tribute to Serena Williams above, and don’t miss Williams’s next match at the U.S. Open on Wednesday night.
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